The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State says it is targeting one million new members ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state.

The Lagos State Chairman, Mr Moshood Salvador, said this on Thursday at the state Secretariat of the party in Ikeja.

He was addressing the party’s councillorship and chairmanship aspirants in the last council polls in the state.

“Our target is to have one million new members ahead of the election and that can be done with commitment of existing members.

“We should go all out and get members into the party. We should embark on mobilisation of members,” he said.

Salvador said the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated the party with less than 200,000 votes in the last election, which meant that the PDP was very relevant in the state.

He said his ultimate ambition as the leader of the party was to unseat the APC, for the PDP to take over.

The party chairman said the commitment of all members was needed to realise that ambition.

“We need to be more committed, we need to be more dedicated, we need to be strong to take the PDP to where it should be in the state,” he said.

He said the PDP would have won the state in the 2015 elections if members had worked harder.

Salvador, therefore, charged members not to take chances this time around, but to embark on aggressive membership drive in their localities.

“We should encourage people to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and vote for the PDP.

“We should also secure and protect our votes during elections. This is how PDP can realise its potential in the state,” he said.

The chairman said the essence of the meeting with aspirants was to carry everyone along and give them a sense of belonging.

Salvador said that the power of every political party lay in the grassroots, as that is the foundation.

He asked the aspirants who contested in the last election to support his efforts to reposition the party.

Salvador said he was building a new party where the common people matter most.

He dismissed speculations in some quarters that there was a crack in the state chapter of the party.

The chairman urged party members to remain one and strong for PDP’s progress.

Mr Wale Olaleye, a member of the party, commended the new spirit in the Lagos PDP.

He commended Salvador for his efforts at promoting peace and unity in the party.

Olaleye called on all members to give him the desired support. (NAN)

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