Lagos PDP not discouraged by S’Court ruling- Spokesman

…..judgment not envisaged- Adediran

The Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Mr Hakeem Amode, has said the party was not discouraged by the Supreme Court judgment, saying that there would always be another opportunity.

Amode, in a statement issued on Saturday, said as a party committed to democratic principles, the PDP has no option but to move forward after the highest court has issued a conclusive judgment on the matter.

WesternPost had reported that the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of the state as the winner of the 2023 governorship election and discarded the appeal of Mr Olajide Adediran (Jandor) and that of the candidate of the Labour Party in the election, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

“Our candidate in the election, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran aka Jandor, has shared his perspective on the judgment and has even extended congratulations to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, whose victory has been affirmed by the court.

“We remain dedicated to fostering a thriving democracy, and we will refrain from any actions that undermine the hard-fought gains achieved during the military era.

“The Lagos State chapter of the PDP believes that if given the opportunity to serve the people, we have more comprehensive programmes for the residents compared to the current offerings,” he said.

According to him, the PDP firmly believes that Lagos State residents should not endure hardship amidst abundance, and we are confident that another chance to serve will emerge in the near future. We will not allow this momentary setback to dampen our spirits.

He emphasised that Lagos, as a metropolitan state and the commercial center of Nigeria, holds a prominent position nationally and competes with some African countries in terms of GDP, population, and developmental indicators.

“Our candidate, Jandor, remains committed to public service and will continue to make himself available whenever the need arises.

“There will always be another opportunity, and we will not let this temporary setback hinder our pursuit of making Lagos State an egalitarian society with equal opportunities for everyone.

“We also want to express our gratitude to everyone who supported us before, during, and after the election”, said Amode.

“The party thanked all its members in Lagos State, their supporters, market men and women, business people, traders, journalists, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and many others “for their unwavering support.

“Your dedication during the campaigns, at the polls, and throughout the legal proceedings has not gone unnoticed. 

” You have shown us that you are dependable, and we are not alone in our quest for the kind of society we deserve in the state,” Amode said.

Meanwhile, Adediran had expressed disappointment over the judgment.

Adediran said in a statement that he personally signed and dated January 12, that “we have expressed our reservation on the conduct and the outcome of the election by taking advantage of the provisions of the constitution and the electoral law to file petition at the election tribunal through to the Appeal court and finally, the Supreme Court.”

The PDP candidate stressed that it was not the outcome they envisaged or worked so hard for. 

Adediran, however, said that he was very proud of the values they shared and the vision they held for the state.