Chief Taiwo Abayomi Kuye is the
Financial Secretary of the Peoples
Democratic Party PDP in Lagos, in this
interview, he spoke on the loss of the
election in the state to the All
Progressives Congress (APC) saying his
party contested against the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC)
and security agents and not APC.
Excerpts:
Why the party is heading for the
tribunal?
We came to INEC to complain about
irregularities and up till now, INEC
cannot give us a definite answer. The
other day I said it, that part of their
game plan were the irregularities that
characterized the governorship
elections. In preparation for the election,
there was a meeting between all the
local government electoral officers and
other chieftains of the party, where they
planned in favor of APC. We discovered
this in about 11 local governments,
whereas in the governorship, we busted
it in about 14 Local Governments.
PDP stronghold in Lagos?
The PDP stronghold in Lagos is more
than 13, 14 local governments to be
precise. There are Igbos in Lagos: Epe,
Ajeromi, Agege; there is no part of
Lagos you won’t find them. The same
pattern of rigging was used by the APC.
The five local government areas that
were left out were areas they cannot
change the figures because they were
really dealt with. But in areas like
Mushin, Kosofe where they were
defeated with 5,000, they just went to
INEC booths and added figures, unlike
in Ajeromi and others where they lost
with 20,000 votes. There they cannot do
anything cynical. I stand to tell you that
our stronghold cut across more than 14
local governments in Lagos, and we
have won that election. That is why on
the part of APC there was no
celebration.
Why then did PDP candidate
congratulate Ambode, if he didn’t
accept the outcome?
Congratulations does not stop anything,
it only shows that Jimi Agbaje is a
statesman by doing so.
Is PDP not crying over spilled milk?
We have not lost, go to all nooks and
crannies of Lagos, everyone will tell you
that they voted Jimi Agbaje. All these
and more are the true facts that we are
presenting to the tribunal.
Is there still unity within PDP with
current happenings in the party?
We are united. Obanikoro is a leader
here, Bode George is also the party’s
leader in Lagos and south west, so we
are going nowhere. Anyone who jumps
ship because APC is now at the center,
such a person is making a fool of
himself or herself. Anyone who makes
such a stupid mistake would have
himself or herself to blame in the
nearest future. Likewise, I stand to be
the last person to remain in PDP, even
till tomorrow.
So, how was Lagos State won and lost
again?
Lagos State belongs to us, everyone
saw it, and all classes of people saw
that Jimi Agbaje was voted as the
governor. But it was a battle between
PDP, INEC, the security agencies in
Lagos and not APC.
When are you going to the tribunal?
We have 21 days after the election. It is
a 3-member tribunal and I have the list
of members. We will file our papers
before the deadline expires.
Future of PDP in Lagos?
Our landslide victory in the council
elections sent a signal to APC, we won
more than 12, 13 local government
chairmanship, and more than 180
councillorship. But their leader said: ‘go
and give them 18 councillorship, they
cannot preside over anything in Lagos’.
All these will come to an end when we
come back from the tribunal.

While APC was the winner and PDP the loser! and Lagosians the ultimate winner.