Ndigbo Leader Urges Igbos In Lagos To  Prepare PVC In Solidarity Of Idimogu

The President General of Igbo speaking Community in Lagos State, Chief Dr Sunday Udeh, has called on all Igbos residents in Lagos to get their voter’s card for the sake of the lone voice of Igbos in the state, Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu.

He said the era when Igbos would fold their hands or play football on election days is over.

Udeh made the call in a statement against the backdrop of uncertainties surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC), primary in Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II, where it is believed that some persons are conniving for the re-election bid of Idimogu for second term under APC.

Recall that Idimogu emerged member, Lagos State House of Assembly representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II under PDP in 2015 but decamped to APC after two years.

His supporters who stated that he deserved to be given the opportunity of second term in office under APC but according to them, there is the suspicion that the party leaders at the state level are trying to edge Idimogu out for Ladi Ajomale, son of a former APC chairman in the state, Henry Ajomale.

According to the PG, Idimogu is the lone voice of the Igbos, lone voice of his Constituents and lone voice of other non-indigines at the state House of Assembly, Udeh said.

The distraught Igbo leader who expressed shock over the development, said that it is one thing to win party primary and it is another to win the general elections.

Udeh’s words, “I have said it over and over that primary election is not the end to an election and if our party in power in Lagos (APC) needs Igbos vote, they will be compassionate enough to give them some strategic positions so that when the general election comes, they will have the desire to vote for APC because their brother is there.”

The Igbo leader believes a ticket for Idimogu will translate to massive victory for the party in the general elections.

He fumed that Igbos are not supposed to fight tooth and nail before being considered for political office in Lagos owing to the stake they hold in building the state

“The steps so being perfected by the privileged few may bungle the gains the party has made in the area in the last election which resulted in so many Igbos registering and transferring their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to the area.

Udeh said such feat was achievable because of the intense engagement of many individuals and groups by Idimogu that made them to see reasons to take such decisions.

Expressing concerns, Ude said, “My fear is that Igbos may cast a protest vote in Oshodi/Isolo in particular which might affect both House of Assembly and House of Representative seats. My people here in Lagos the much I know, are not the type you can buy with your money when they want to vote, only few political jobbers/hucksters can fall to election inducements.

“We have ISC operating in the 57 LGAs and LCDAs of Lagos. It’s a socio- cultural body. Our population in Lagos is about 45 percent. In the economy of the state, we are major stakeholders. We are law-abiding, and have brought ourselves to governing authority of this landlord.

“Jude Idimogu is our son and also a son of this land having married a  beautiful Yoruba lady. He is the only voice we have in the Lagos State House of Assembly of 40 members.

“We are aware that the result of the APC state house of Assembly primary election held on Friday 27 May, 2022 has not been released by the party. But if the news milling around is anything to go by, we are not comfortable with any arrangements that would eventually scheme him out.

“I make bold to say it that 90 percent of Igbos today are in APC, unlike in the past. We even have Ndigbo in APC. I wonder why with such numerical strength, during elections, we would be denied political positions we ought to occupy. It’s said that where you live, you protect.

“During the last LGA election, I made a case for the position of Vice Council Chairmen be allowed for an Igbo in some LGAs, reasoned also that It may not be out of place if a political party magnanimously accepts Igbo man or woman as deputy governor.

“We are very optimistic our votes will count at the forthcoming election. We are partners in progress. Jude is tested and trusted. He is not new to the system. He is intelligent and a grassroot detribalized politician to the core. I doubt how many politicians at his level has committed the amount of support he has stimulated for the party. He has expended time and resources, his constituents and Lagosians can attest to that.

“We are aware APC allowed him for the first time to carry their flag in 2019, we are not ungrateful. Our plea is that since we haven’t got more persons given ticket, we join other notable Yoruba personalities to appeal to our party leaders to mull over this situation not to alienate our people”