In view of the forthcoming Local Government and Local Council Development Area Elections coming up soon at a date to be specified by the Lagos State Government, Engr Adedeji Doherty the Lagos State PDP Chairman has urged all leaders including the intending candidates for the positions of Councilors and Chairmen in the respective LG areas to go back to the grassroots for serious work.
The LGA and Ward Executive Committee members can also assist in this regard.
He advised all LGA/ LCDA and ward leaders to personally see to the emergence of their respective candidates as his office would no longer entertain any form of lobbying for party ticket.
He further stated that the era of imposing or nominating candidates to compensate leaders should be over.
He said this, during a press parley with journalists who wanted to know his plans towards the forthcoming Local Government elections.
Engr Doherty said, he wants to be remembered as a liberal Chairman who is opposed to the idea of “imposition of candidates” he also urged the long term members of the party especially the youths to rise up and be bold enough to throw their hats into the ring instead of fielding fresh entrants who are not well grounded in the party.
He urged persons visiting his office to lobby for support, to go back to their Leaders and fellow ward members at their local government areas for support, as any candidate not known at the grassroot levels will not emerge this time around.
He advised that leaders at the grassroot levels should screen the aspirants thoroughly before throwing their votes behind “a to be candidate” as the behavior of any candidate during or after being nominated would be the responsibility of the leaders in the affected ward and LGA/LCDA.
He further stated that the performances of the party at the various levels would henceforth fall on the shoulders of the collective leaders in the respective areas and not just one leader. Collective Leadership would be the order of the day.
He pointed out that leaders should be ready to make sacrifices on behalf of the party.
He further highlighted a trend which he described as “disturbing”, he said members have resorted to being very vocal on social media platforms as against doing the necessary “house to house” campaigns.
It is also disturbing that some of our members and party officers believe that their constant or repeated press and picture taking sessions at the Party Secretariat under the umbrella of having nonresult oriented Extraordinary meetings is what wins elections.
They must know, that they are not only wasting their time but also making a mockery of the party and it’s loyal members through out the State.
He said “Elections are not won on social media or on Channels TV but at the polling booths”.
He pointed out that the State Chairman can’t be at every polling unit on Election Day.
He reiterated that he is looking forward to the party’s success at the forthcoming local council elections, but stated that, this can only materialize if all and sundry recognize the fact that grassroot politics especially the riverine communities must be taken very seriously.
Engr Doherty finally pleaded with those seeking various elective positions in 2023 to allow the party members focus on the council elections first, instead of distracting them from focusing on the immediate task ahead.
He advised prospective aspirants to focus on building the party first at the grassroot especially at the ward and polling units and urged them to support the ward Exco officers financially and physically in executing the party programs ie mobilization, registration and youth/women empowerment rather than trying to advertise themselves on social media platforms.
The Chairman then advised the delegates to the forthcoming Southwest Congress to vote for a person with experience , competence and one who must have campaigned and recognized us as delegates rather than voting for an imposed candidate who has never recognized we the delegates and which might lead to an unindependent Executive committee that will be in financial slavery, since the Piper will definitely dictate the tune.
