Chief Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, and other members of the socio-political group Omo Eko Pataki, which includes former deputy governor of Lagos State Senator Kofoworola Akerele-Buknor and Mrs Onikepo Oshodi, have endorsed Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party candidate, for the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on March 11.
During a press conference in Lagos on Monday, the group alleged threats to voters who refused to support a particular political party, describing the action as divisive politics aimed at annihilating Nigerians. The group urged Lagos residents to be cautious about voting for the All Progressives Congress during the election.
Chief George expressed concern about threats being issued against voters who are suspected of being willing to vote against the incumbency. He also accused the ruling party of planning to provoke peace-loving Lagosians by snatching ballot boxes on Election Day.
The group rejected the divisive politics of annihilation of innocent Nigerians, which seeks to create anarchy and provoke the anger of the citizenry. Chief George also narrated how non-Lagosians contested and won elections in Lagos, adding that Lagos has remained the best example of a conquered territory where an Iragbiji native dwells like an obscene Persian monarch determining who becomes a councillor, who becomes a local government chairman, who becomes a House of Assembly member, who becomes a Representative, a Senator, and a Governor.
Chief George warned that if anything happens to Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party candidate, Nigerians should know who to hold responsible. The group called on INEC to ensure the use of the transformational BVAS regime for the transparency of the exercise, which is a departure from the February 25 archaic system, where result sheets were moved manually from polling units.