Lagos LG Poll Sheriff-led faction says PDP will excel

ppreciated.The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Lagos, Mr Segun Adewale, hasexpressed confidence that the party will dowell in July 22 council poll.Adewale of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff -led PDP,made the disclosure in an interview with theNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.He acknowledged that internal problemswithin the party had caused some setbacks,but said the party would rise above itschallenges for a strong showing.“The PDP is a strong party in the state.Agreed there are some problems here andthere caused by some people for theirpersonal interests, but the party willovercome all that and do well at the poll,” hesaid.Adewale said he had made overtures to thefaction led by Moshood Salvador on the needto have a united party but that his effortswere not appreciated.He said the disagreement would not deter hisfaction from preparing well for the poll evenas he said the door of peace was still open tothe Salvador camp.Adewale said his faction conducted itsprimary in all the 20 local government areaand 37 local council development areas onFriday and that it was largely peaceful.“We had our primary election on Friday and Ican tell you that it was largely peaceful andsuccessful.“Apart from Agege, Ikeja and Amuwo wherewe recorded some problems, the primarieswent well and candidates emerged for thechairmanship and councillorship seats.“The successful conduct of our primary is areflection of our determination and resolve todo well at the poll despite the odds.” he said.Adewale condemned the alleged holding ofprimary by some groups under the name ofPDP, saying it was illegal.He said he was the authentic chairman of thestate based on the Appeal Court judgementaffirming Sherrif as national chairman, addingthat any other primary outside his own wasillegal.“I am the authentic Chairman of PDP inLagos. If any group is holding any primary inthe state under the name of the party, it isnull and void as it is illegal, ” he said.Meanwhile, the Salvador faction of Sen AhmedMakarfi Caretaker Committee has directed itsaspirants to seek any other political platformapart from the PDP to contest theforthcoming poll.The Publicity Secretary of the faction, MrTaofik Gani, told NAN that the faction tookthe decision as reconciliation with Adewalefaction was not yielding results.“Yes, we have directed our aspirants to seekany political parties of their choice for theelection.“They are using parties temporarily for theelection pending the resolution of Makarfi /Sheriff at the Supreme Court,” Gani said.Gani, however, said the faction would monitorand guide their aspirants while they conteston the platform of different political parties.NAN reports that LASIEC has fixed July 22 asdate of the council poll and July 29 for run-off.