Will Ambode Trump Sanwo-olu, Hamzat Challenge?

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The battle for the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State takes center stage this weekend as the party picks who will fly their flag in the 2019 election.

Among the contenders are the incumbent Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, current Managing Director, Lagos State Property Development Corporation and Mr. Obafemi Hamzat, former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.

Ambode will be banking on his sterling performance since he took over from Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola. Amidst rumours and political intrigues, Ambode is going into the battle with the assurance of victory.

Not much has been heard about Hamzat since he picked the nomination and expression of interest forms. Some claimed he has been making underground moves and consultations with the party stakeholders. Many have insinuated that Hamzat is being backed by Fashola and is expected to make a good showing during the direct primaries.

Sanwo-olu is also in the race for the ticket. He is said to be backed solidly by the influential Mandate Group. To brighten his prospects, Sanwo-Olu, was said to have met with the camp of Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Fashola and the State factional chairman of the party, Mr. Fuad Oki. This came as the Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, in the state, dismissed insinuations that it had a preferred aspirant, insisting that there would be a level playing field for all.

The GAC, which is headed by the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the highest decision making organ of the party. However, party chairmen across the state, 57 LG Chairmen and 377 Councillors, were said to have thrown their weight behind Sanwo-Olu, stressing that his aspiration would guarantee victory for the party.

However, the Spokesperson of the GAC, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, who briefed newsmen, said its involvement in the processes leading to the primaries was not influenced by anyone. He added that direct primaries would be applied during the exercise scheduled to hold on Saturday.

Finnih affirmed that the GAC unanimously adopted the method to pick APC candidates in all elective positions.
His words: “This is not a Tinubu affair as being peddled around on the social media and some quarters. The GAC members at the last meeting held during the weekend deliberated on how to conduct peacefully, the forthcoming party primaries. We decided to adopt Direct Primary to choose candidates for the party.

“The GAC has no preferred candidate among the gubernatorial aspirants. It is not about Tinubu, it is a collective decision. We resolved to provide a level playing field for the contenders. The adoption of direct primary is to further democratise the electoral process in the party and do away with anointed candidates. This will also ensure a credible exercise. Every aspirant should go to the field and test his popularity because the people will decide.”

Meanwhile, in readiness for Saturday’s direct primary election, Ambode’s team has approved specialised training for 1,960 personnel that will serve as agents in all the 245 wards in the constitutionally recognised 20 Local government areas where the primary election is expected to take place.

This development comes on the heels of the inauguration of the Ambode Campaign Organisation, ACO coordinators and offices in the three senatorial districts in the state, with functional outposts across the 20 local governments.

In a statement on Thursday from the Directorate of Media and Strategy of ACO, the agents have been selected and trained “to be the eyes and ears of Governor Ambode as the candidate of choice in the primary election.”

The statement added that while being vigilant and uncompromising, the agents have been tutored to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner as loyal members of the APC “who want the best for the party and for democracy by ensuring that the best candidate emerges on a level playing ground.”

Ambode had on Wednesday reiterated his intention to participate in Saturday’s primary election in line with the preference of the party and the influential Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC).

The governor’s position has sent jubilation and encouragement to his teeming supporters who believe he deserves a second term in office in order to consolidate on his numerous landmark socio-infrastructural achievements in the past three and half years.