By Bose Adelaja
NOT less than 100 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ikorodu Central Local Council Development Area are warming up for the forthcoming local government elections. The contestants are vying for the chairmanship and councillorship tickets of the two major parties.

The APC, on the surface, seems to enjoy dominance and appears more noticeable on the streets.

Reflective of the political intrigues playing out in the area, APC Chairman Alhaji Rilwan Jinadu, popularly called R.I, disclosed that no one has formally shown interest in any position. However, he admitted that some aspirants were on the side entrenching themselves and planning ahead of the flag off of campaigns.

He said: ‘’We are awaiting the release of the electoral guidelines from the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission LASIEC, so that the candidates can obtain forms.”

Democratic  processes

Against the background of insinuations of the imposition of candidates in the past, Jinadu disclosed that party policies have changed from imposition to democratic processes saying that party members will be free to choose the candidates of their choice without interference from any quarters.

Hon Jinadu who has been the party chairman since 2006 was not coy to admit that he could himself contest if the rules do not disqualify him.

‘’I have been building my political career because I know where I am going. Ikorodu needs a vibrant chairman that can lead them to gain the dividends of democracy. If elected, I will fix the infrastructure ranging from roads, healthcare, water and electricity to complement the job of the sitting governor.”

Despite the inroad made into the state by the PDP in the 2015 general elections, he dismissed the PDP as a walkover. “I can say categorically that as far as Ikorodu is concerned, there is no party that can intimidate us because all the notable personalities in the opposition party have converted, so we have nothing to worry about. In essence, we have gained a larger percentage of PDP members which means that the opposition party is as good as dead in Ikorodu,” he said.

The assertions of the APC chairman nonetheless, the PDP is itself pushing for a showdown with the ruling party despite the internal challenges in  the opposition party.

The chairman of the party in the area, Hon. Adesina Musiliu, played down the matter, assuring that the two factions in Abuja are resolving their problems

A visit to the PDP secretariat at Olubi Street indicated skeletal activities. Musiliu, nevertheless, admitted that about 60 aspirants had signified interest in the  chairmanship and several councillorship tickets.

He dismissed insinuations that the crisis at the national level would affect the chances of the party in the area.

“The internal crisis has nothing to do with the growth of the party, and I want to assure you that if the election is free and fair, we have all it takes to win,” adding that if elected, PDP would fix bad roads in the area.

The PDP chairman was quick to make some pitches towards the electorate in Ikorodu promising that the party would renovate the many primary schools he said were in bad shape and address the concern of the people as regards  markets in the area that have been described as expensive and out of reach of common traders.

The PDP chairman, however, expressed his reservations on the logistics for the polls. He complained that polling centres are being located in residential homes rather than public places.

“Most of the polling booths are sited in residential houses when they are supposed to be in neutral places like schools, town halls or open fields. As for voters’ cards, many of our people that registered could not access their permanent voters’ cards. This is worrisome if nothing is done before the elections. We are ready for the elections, but our fear is that from all indications, the sitting government may rig it.”