Kunle Adelabu
-Commends party, constituents for electoral victory
The Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Sen. Adetokunbo Mikhail Abiru, has charged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the need to improve the party’s electoral chances by embarking on awareness and mobilize other people to join the ruling party.
The former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Polaris PLC, also commended his party and entire constituents in his District for giving him their mandates to represent them at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.
Abiru gave the charge and commendations at a parley with the 16 APC Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen and representatives of the 84 Wards in the Lagos East Senatorial District who were represented by the Chairmen of the Ward Chairmen’s Forum in each LGA, held at his Ikorodu District Office located along the T.O.S Benson Avenue, Ikorodu.
He said that members should use the upcoming membership registration/revalidation of old membership to create more awareness about the party and bring in more members.
He also presented his programmes for his constituents at the parley.
The Director – General of Sen. Abiru Campaign Organisation, Hon. Segun Olulade, in his opening remarks, commended the LGA and Ward Chairmen for the emergence of Sen. Abiru as Senator and added that the District should be proud to have produced a former bank Managing Director as Senator.
“We are very proud that Lagos East is the first to produce the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of any bank as a Senator”.
He stated that Senator Abiru, with his background, will assist and contribute to the development of the financial sector of the country with his expertise.
Sen Abiru, while reviewing the last December 5th bye – election which he won against his closest opponent with a wide margin, said that efforts by the LGA and Ward Chairmen in his emergence are commendable.
“I want to start by thanking everybody here present for the vital and critical roles that you played during the campaign and the election.
“It was a very salutary effort and we thank God for the outcome.
“This is an opportunity to thank the entire Senatorial District through everybody here since you are representing the district. I thank you all for the wonderful support.
“I want to use those that are here as a point of contact to all the Ward Chairmen and their executives too”, he said.
The former Managing Director of the Polaris Bank PLC said that the bye – election coming after the #EndSARS protest that rocked the country, especially Lagos where it turned violent and the challenges posed by the COVID – 19 pandemic, was a difficult one.
He added that despite the dismay performance regarding the turnout of voters compared to the number of the registered voters, those that participated deserve salutation for the feat recorded.
“It was my first experience and I can say that the bye – election is more difficult than the main election. I could tell and this particular one came after the backlash of the #EndSARS protest.
“There is every reason to salute everyone that despite the challenges, we still came out with resounding success, even if it would appear that the total votes cast compared with the registered voters look somehow dismay.
“But two things are very instructive from the outcome, one, despite the turnout and the total votes cast during the election, which was about 105, 000 votes by INEC record, when compared with the total registered votes, we have about 80%. I have done the analysis.
“Though, the turnout at the election was low, but what is useful is that INEC confirmed that turnout at typical bye – election is usually low and yet, we still had that turnout and votes, it is still salutary.
“The appreciation can only be shared by all of us”.
While commending the party chieftains for the electoral victory, Sen. Abiru also charged them that there is still a lot that could be done to improve on the future electoral contest for the party.
“As we rejoice over the success of the party at the bye-election, it also tells us that as a group and a party, there is still a lot that we can do”, he said.
“Despite the abysmal and low bye – election turnout, but as stated by the INEC in its report which I have read, the fact that we had close to 88% says a lot about our party. If you take 88% in a contest, it shows that your opponent is at a distant 11% and that also underscores your acceptance in your constituency”, Abiru added.
“These are points that we must know, but not just knowing them and getting complacent, what is important is that we must find a way to improve. We must continuously improve.
“There are several issues why the turnout was low and we must be alert to them.
“This takes me to the upcoming registration by our party, which is meant to create more awareness about our party and get more people to be more committed to the party”, he charged.
“Overall, we thank you for the wonderful performance that we had and the turnout at the election and for the victory at the end of the day”, Abiru added.
