By Dapo Akinrefon

LAGOS—THE Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tunji Shelle, has said that there was no way the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC,  Akinwunmi Ambode will defeat the PDP’s governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje when both candidate square up on  April 11, in the governorship election.

Akinwunmi Ambode

Shelle also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure a level playing field for all the governorship candidates and reject any form of coercion or inducement from the ruling party in Lagos.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Shelle who condemned the defacement of Agbaje’s posters in strategic areas of the state, especially the ones on the Third Mainland Bridge, said while the Lagos PDP was busy, moving from one location to another, vigorously campaigning for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and Agbaje’s emergence as the next governor of Lagos, the APC was busy with campaign of calumny, mudslinging and politics of hate across the state.

Commending INEC for taking disciplinary actions against two adhoc staffs who were depriving non-indigenes of getting their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, he added that information reaching the PDP indicates that many non –indigenes, who have pledged their support for the PDP were yet to get their cards.

He said “Everywhere we went, Lagosians are telling us that we made the right choice by giving them the candidate of their choice, Jimi Agbaje. They said they have had enough of the APC in Lagos. They are telling us that you cannot be calling for change in Abuja and asking for continuity in Lagos. They want that change in Lagos.

“With what we have seen so far, there is no way Ambode can defeat Agbaje.  President Jonathan will win massively in Lagos and Agbaje will beat Ambode hands down. The APC know this and that explains why they are jittery. Go to Third Mainland Bridge today, all Agbaje’s posters have been defaced. That is not how to play politics.

“I appeal to INEC to ensure a level playing field for all the candidates and ensure a transparent polls where the popular choice will emerge. They should also ensure that non-indigenes in the state collect their PVCs,” he said.