The governorship primaries of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress at the Onikan Stadium, Ikoyi on Thursday kicked off with over 3,000 delegates from the 20 local government areas of the state accredited as the ballot boxes were seen placed at the centre of the field.
All 13 governorship aspirants who had their seat beyond the main field include: former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan; former Account General of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode; incumbent Commissioner for Works, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Senator Ganiyu Solomon.
Others are Wahab Tokunbo, a former aide to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Tayo Akinde; Mr. Olanrewaju Ope, erstwhile Commissioner for Rural Affairs, Toyin Ayinde and a one-time Attorney General of the state, Olasupo Shasore.
Ambode, rumoured to enjoy the support of Tinubu is the most likely aspirant to win the primary election. This is based on a survey of the thoughts of a cross section of delegates drawn from all the local governments in the state.
Notwithstanding protests by every other aspirants aside Ambode for the adoption of the direct system of election for the primary, the APC went ahead to employ the delegate system better known as the indirect system of voting.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has already told the APC aspirants that they are welcome to its fold should they perceive any underhand dealing.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of APC in Lagos State, Chief Henry Ajomale, who addressed journalists at the venue expressed optimism that there would be a level playing field.
He pointed out that the direct system of primaries would be too hectic and cumbersome and assured that the aspirants would not defect to the PDP even if things do not go their way at the end of the day.
Hear him, “We had about 20 aspirants in 2007 and many even left because they were not satisfied but we still won convincingly.
“Everybody cannot win but I am proud of the quality of the aspirants we have today,” he noted.
Also speaking, the chairman of the event, Peter Obada, who served as Deputy Governor of Edo State some years back, promised newsmen that the votes would be counted at the venue.
More to follow. . .
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