Crisis Looms in APC as National Body Disagrees with National Leader on Lagos Governorship Primary

Segun Atanda/

In spite of the participation of its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the Lagos governorship primary today, the National Working Committee (NWC) has described the election as an exercise in futility.

Following reports that the candidate that is Tinubu’s choice has won the primary through Option A4 system, the Chairman of the NWC panel that should be in charge, Mr Clement Ebri, told reporters towards the evening the kind of victory that the party at the National level would love to see and the voting method that must be adopted.

He said: “We want a victory that will be credible and will be in line with the guidelines and rules. We are now ready to do the ground running. In the next few minutes, I will contact the national office to inform them that we are now ready for the primary.”

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has also refused to concede defeat to his rival, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu who appeared to have won the botched primary, which a group loyal to Ambode has also described as a No Show.

According to a statement from Ambode Campaign Organisation (ACO), the governor “has not conceded any defeat as primary election is yet to hold in Lagos State”.

“The statement says, “There are guidelines and procedures which the National Working Committee (NWC) has insisted must be followed in conducting a credible poll. These include the usage of membership slips and membership cards by registered party members as well as the adoption of the secret ballot system which protects the electorate. The NWC came from Abuja with sufficient ballot papers which are yet to be distributed. As a loyal and responsible party member and a Democrat, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is guided by the process announced by the party and shall await the new date of the governorship primary election.

“We urge all party members and our teeming supporters to remain calm and peaceful and to refuse to be intimidated. Governor Ambode is still very much in the race and is poised to win in order to continue the good works he has been doing in the last three and half years.”