By
Promise Eze
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, has dismissed a viral report that some of its candidates were disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the 2023 general election.
Recall that the former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, was reported to have raised an alarm that 21 of the 40 House of Assembly candidates have been disqualified.
He allegedly said the reason is because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said primary elections did not hold in the affected local governments.
The said local governments are Agege, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Mushin, Ojo, and Surulere.
However, in a recent development, Hakeem Amode, Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, denied the report in a statement on Monday in Lagos.
He described it as a “figment of the imagination of the opposition”.
“The PDP leadership in Lagos state woke up to the story which purported that INEC had disqualified 21 candidates of the party in the state, crediting the story to our leader, Chief Bode George, with utmost embarrassment.
“The PDP in Lagos state will like to assure all our candidates, our members and supporters that there is no such thing and the news is not true.
“We make bold to say that such news is a figment of imagination of mischief makers, indicating that the PDP leadership is more prepared now than ever before to win the general elections in Lagos state and Nigeria,” he said.
The spokesman maintained that INEC, in line with the Electoral Act, published the list of candidates for the 2023 general elections and PDP candidates for all elective seats were on the list.
Amode added that the information contained on INEC website as at press time has not changed, so this story is fake.
He warned that no one should fuel the embers of discord capable of demoralizing its hard working candidates who are putting everything into the project to rescue and re-engineer the governance of our dear state, Lagos.
