Accord Party in the statement released by Lanre Ogundare, Director General of Accord Lagos Campaign Council, alleged that those who earlier endorsed the governor were no longer recognised members of the party.
The African Action Congress (AAC) and the Accord Party have both distanced their members and stakeholders from the purported endorsement of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Babajide Sanwo-Olu, ahead of Saturday's governorship election in the state.
This was announced in separate statements by the parties on Tuesday, adding that their parties were not for sale and they would not trade the dividends of democracy for the people with anything else.
The AAC noted in the statement by its Lagos governorship candidate, Akeem Olayiwola, that the party remained “the real alternative and genuine people's freedom on the ballot.”
The party said, “There's rumor around the political atmosphere that AAC Lagos has pledged it's support to APC. We are using this opportunity to let the public know that our party – AAC – is not for sale nor the candidates aligned with any political party.
“We are a party of unique ideology towards equity and justice in governance, because we believe that without equity and justice in governance; the masses will not adequately enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“The concept of equity and justice which are the propellants to implement our policy while in government made us to be unique and prevent us to form alliance with other political parties, except PRP vanguard, which we have similarity in ideology.
“AAC in Lagos and other states of the country still remains the real alternative and genuine people's freedom on the ballot. Vote AAC at all levels.”
Also, the Accord Party in the statement released by Lanre Ogundare, Director General of Accord Lagos Campaign Council, alleged that those who earlier endorsed the governor were no longer recognised members of the party.
The statement read, “We, the leadership of Accord Lagos, are writing to express our disagreement with the alleged endorsement made by an unidentified entity posing as the party's factional candidate for governor. You might find it interesting to know that the anonymous group is composed of political merchants who are determined to make money during every electioneering season.
“Prior to being expelled from the party in 2019, the same faceless group traded the fortune of the party with the candidate of the PDP, Mr Jimi Agbaje. When the Labour Party refused to associate with the faceless and factional governorship candidate as claimed, they immediately devised a plan to support APC's nominee for governor.
“We are all aware that INEC, the political arbiter, announced the names of the parties' nominees for the 18 March 2023 governorship election, with honorable Hakeem Dickson being the legitimate and officially acknowledged candidate of Accord in Lagos State.
“The expelled political businessmen who solicited nomination fees and expression of interest from unwary citizens under the pretense of running them for office.
“We want to denounce the criminal activity carried out by these anonymous group members, and we have alerted the security services via a petition we sent to the director of the DSS on March 13th, 2023, asking for help in preventing a breakdown in law and order.
“We want to reassure our devoted friends, well-wishers, and sympathizers that we are still actively working to save our beloved state and get it back on the right track.”