Opposition parties can takeover Lagos under free, fair atmosphere – PDP candidate, Sogunro

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alimosho Constituency 01, Emmanuel Sunday Sogunro, has expressed confidence that opposition parties in the state can win elections under a free and fair atmosphere.

While speaking on his mandate, yesterday, in Lagos, Sogunro said the belief propelled him to opt for a position that would be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), rather than the ones conducted by the state electoral agency.

Sogunro explained that he once took a shot at an elective position in 2017 when he wanted to serve as the Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Chairman, howbeit under the Labour Party platform, but did not win for reasons he complained bordered on how local council elections are conducted by state governments, especially Lagos State, where it is a ‘do or die affair’ making it very difficult for opposition party candidates to win, “even when they win, are blatantly denied the tickets.” `

He said: “In 2015 however, in an election that was nationally conducted, the PDP won six seats at the House of Representatives and eight seats at the Lagos House of Assembly, indicating that the opposition parties in Lagos can win elections under a free and fair atmosphere.”

Sogunro is confident that the same dynamics that ousted President Goodluck Jonathan, a sitting President by the opposition would soon play out in the state, resulting in the opposition winning over the state.

He ruled out any plan to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), if he eventually wins, like the previous party members did, “One thing is very important in life, that you should have the mind of your own.

It is however, obvious that in a house with 40 members and only eight are in the opposition the remaining majority, which includes the Governor, his Deputy, Commissioners, with other political big wigs in the state will constantly be putting pressure on them to join them.

“Infact, some levels of intimidation will be applied to coerce them, which could include withholding their constituency allowance, fringe benefits, or not allowing them to function in certain committees, even if they are considered competent enough, all of these cooked up together against somebody could make them cave in, except for someone who is resolute and determined and not willing to disappoint his constituents, who could decide to organise something like a town hall meeting to explain his dilemma, inhibiting him from meeting up with his campaign promises, which I believe many will believe and emphasise with him rather than cowardly defecting.” Sogunro added.

In response to why he is confident of winning despite acknowledging the strength of the ruling party in the state, Sogunro asserted that his confidence stems from the fact that the APC lawmaker, who has been representing the constituency for over 11 years has nothing to show for his representation.

“Let the incumbent lawmaker point to any meaningful thing he has done since assuming that position, starting from Ikola where I was born to Ipaja where he resides to Ayobo and other places in Alimosho Constituency 01, there is practically no impact made by him to those communities, there is a general discontent expressed by residents who greatly yearn for a change of Representative, which I have come to provide.

“Since APC came to power in 2015, there was no improvement made to the lives of Nigerians, they have nothing to show to improve the lives of the masses either in the areas of infrastructure, education, health or economy. They failed in every area, so my opponent cannot stand side by side with me to promote his party, because himself and his party have nothing to offer.”

Sogunro stressed, “We at the grassroots know the feelings of the people and hear their complains, even the APC members are not being taken care of, they have been abandoned, we are the ones taking care of many of them now, many at the grassroots, including a large number of APC members are disgruntled with the party.”