Reports on the plot to stop
Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos, in 2019 have been dismissed by
stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state — but
emerging signs show he is fighting for his political life.
TheCable reports that that there
is a threat to impeach Ambode if he does not drop his second term bid.
Over 50 council chairmen loyal to
Bola Tinubu, his estranged godfather, have met and pledged their support for
Jide Sanwonolu, who is believed to be Tinubu’s preferred choice, according to
APC insiders.
The council chairmen are the most
influential grassroots mobilisers under the direct primary system adopted by
APC to pick governorship candidates.
Most members of the Lagos house
of assembly are also loyal to Tinubu.
“Meeting is over. Ambode is out.
Jide Sanyaolu Sanwonolu is the new governor of Lagos. All 57 local government
chairman have signed his form. It’s over,” the source said.
This claim could not independently be verified by NigerianEye.
Ambode at the APC headquarters on
Monday
|
On Monday, the governor,
alongside some members of his cabinet, stormed the headquarters of the APC in
Abuja to get expression of interest and nomination forms for his 2019 bid.
He later told some APC members
that he was not tired and needed their support to continue in office beyond
2019.
“With your support, we have made
Lagos a better place and changed the face of our state. I did not do it alone;
we did it together, because you believed,” he had said.
“So, I humbly call you again, to
give me your support as I seek to continue with your mandate to steer the
affairs of our state. I ask you to believe again and together, let’s achieve
more.”
However, Sanwonolu and Obafemi
Hamzat, two prominent members of the APC in Lagos, also picked the nomination
forms for the governorship election of 2019.
Sanwonolu, who served as a
commissioner under Babatunde Fashola, Ambode’s predecessor, is currently the
managing director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC).
He is being backed by Mandate
Movement, a group fiercely loyal to Tinubu.
At a meeting held after Sanwonolu
picked up his nomination form, James Odunmbaku, an ally of Tinubu known as
“Baba Eto” in the political circle, said “Sanwololu is the incoming governor of
Lagos.”
Sanwonolu surrounded by members of Mandate Movement |
There have been reports of a rift
between Tinubu and Ambode. When the APC leader canvassed for direct primary in
Lagos, rumors were rife that Ambode was one of the targets but both men have
carried on as if all is well.
Hamzat, a former commissioner in
the state, is also eyeing Ambode’s seat, having failed to secure the party’s
ticket in 2015.
Heavyweights of the ruling party
had rallied round Ambode who defeated Hamzat and Olasupo Sasore, the choice of
Fashola, to clinch the ticket of APC in 2015.
Asked to comment on the latest
development in the state, Joe Igbokwe, publicity secretary of Lagos APC, said: “Do you know that Ambode picked his nomination form yesterday? That
puts to rest the speculations you’ve been hearing for years. Ambode is the man.
Take it.”
Tunde Rahman, spokesman of
Tinubu, promised to get back to us when he was contacted but had not done
so as of the time this report was filed.
Abib Haruna, chief press
secretary to Ambode, was not available for comments, his telephone line was out
of reach.
The latest development is coming
at a time when an APC faction led by Fouad Oki is plotting to stop the
primaries for the 2019 elections which are to commence across the country on
Wednesday.
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