BY IDRIS MUSA ADAM,
U14MM1177
Thousands of party members trooped out across the state on Tuesday to cast votes for the governorship primary elections of APC, after it has been postponed severally due to some political play between the incumbent governor’s camp, Akinwunmi Ambode and Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu, his main challenger who is having the backing of APC national leader, Bola Tinubu and other party stakeholders in the state.
Thousands of party members trooped out across the state on Tuesday to cast votes for the governaship primary elections of APC, after it has been postponed severally due to some political play between the incumbent governor’s camp, Akinwunmi Ambode and Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu, his main challenger who is having the backing of APC national leader, Bola Tinubu and other party stakeholders in the state.
The election has been postponded for the fourth time, this time with the involvement of the Narional Working Committee of the party which is said to be done in favour of Ambode, after the result suggesting Mr Jide as the winner of the Election.
With this development, it is believed that president Buhari is also backing Ambode and is ensuring that he emerge the party candidate, meanwhile it could be a tough tussle which is going to be between the president and Tinubu which can also affect the 209 general elections.
As the event unfolds, the National working committee is in support of Ambode acting on the orders of Mr President, while Bola Tinubu is in control of the state party chapter.
The NWC team, led by a former Cross River State governor, Clement Ebri, had on Monday told the state’s party chieftains that the national body proposed the use of ballot papers and membership slips for persons without cards.
The party leaders however rejected the idea, harping that the exercise might not hold yesterday.
But at about 11:10 p.m., the same day, Mr. Wale Ahmed, secretary to the state chairman, Mr. Tunde Balogun, issued a statement saying: “I have the authority of the state chairman to inform you all that our gubernatorial primaries election will hold on October 2 (yesterday) at 9:00 a.m., as earlier planned.
All are enjoined to go out and play their roles and pass the information to all members.
Please, note that there will be no ballot papers, no ballot boxes and no acceptance of slips. Strictly APC membership ID cards for the election.”
Ambode, had earlier expressed concern that he and many of his supporters might be disenfranchised on account of having only the slips.
The party chairman in the state Mr Balogun say the poll will not be cancelled, he said, and the position of the NWC will not stand.
“I am the APC chairman for Lagos State and I cannot disenfranchise about 1.5 million people that took part in this exercise all over the state. It will be unfair and unjust to do so,” he insisted.
He told reporters: “The election stands because it was conducted according to the constitution of the party.
Meanwhile from the part of the National chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole states, “Everything that is being done (in Lagos) is done under the control of and supervision and direction of the NWC.”
He added that measures were being taken to ensure the primary did not go violent, and that, “Democracy doesn’t flourish with violence and Nigeria must begin to learn how to differ in opinion and in choice without fighting.
And for me, I am excited that if we can do it in Lagos, we can do it anywhere.”
During the controversial election, supporters of the incumbent alleged harassment by Sanwo-Olu enthusiasts, a complaint that equivalently emanated from Ambode’s Epe stronghold where an agent of the challenger was physically assaulted.
The political state in APC appears to be a tough time, as many states are facing same issues of democracy and fair play, with the mantra of the party (change) the public are following keenly to see what happens in the APC and decide what to do with party come 2019.
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