Lagos PDP Condemns INEC's Plan To Engage Men Of Motor Parks/Garages Committee For Elections

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be giving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) undue advantages in the coming elections by engaging the services of the Lagos State Motor Parks and Garages Committee and its members in the transportation and distribution of election personnels and materials during the forthcoming general elections.

Speaking through its State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Hakeem Amode, the party alleged in a statement dated Thursday February 9, 2023 that "it is a common knowledge that the current leadership of the Motor Parks Committee, under Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo is an organised arm of the APC in Lagos State."

"The Committee's emergence came as a result of the interest of the present government and members of the committee and operators have declared their support and interest to support candidates of the APC at a well attended and publicized campaign rally held recently in the state.

"There is a clear evidence that the transporters under the aegis of Lagos Motor Parks and Garages are daily openly display the campaign banner of the APC candidates on their vehicle plying the roads in Lagos. 

"It is therefore calls for concerned how INEC in the wisdom of it's leadership thinks these committee members and transport operators will not undermine it's efforts by dancing to the whims and caprices of their benefactor to affect the election in favour of their principal interest.

"We would like to implore the INEC to source for alternative transportation logistics arrangement for the election personnels and materials to avoid the efforts of the commission been eroded by elements who are interested in serving the interest of their political benefactors in the coming election. 

"We suggest that the option of engaging Uber, taxify and other private transport operation should be considered rather than employing the services of a known political arm of the ruling party in the state," the statement read.

It was added that the party believes in the capacity of the "INEC to conduct a free and fair election in Lagos State in 2023 as witnessed in Ekiti and Osun recently and we urge the leadership of the commission to preserve it's sanctity by jettison the idea of engaging the services of members of Lagos State Motor Parks and Garages in the deployment of it's personnel and materials as that may lead to eroding the confidence the electorate already impose in the commission ahead of the 2023 elections."

"In the same light, the leadership of our party would be readily available to suggest independent transport operation organisations that would serve the interest of the commission better and preserve the respect the electorates accord the commission," Amode said.