Ambode, the candidate endorsed by the national leader of the party and former governor of the state, Bola
Tinubu, defeated 13 other aspirants, including the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olasupo Shasore; Senator Ganiyu Solomon, and former Commissioner for Health, Leke Pitan.
Others he floored to clinch the ticket were incumbent commissioner for works, Obafemi Hamzat, Tokunbo Wahab, Tayo Ayinde, Adekunle Disu, Abayomi Sutton, Tola Kasali, and the only female aspirant, Tokunbo Agbesanwa.
In an exercise that has been described as free, fair and credible by the delegates, Ambode scored 3,735 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Hamzat, who polled 1, 201 votes. Solomon came a distant third with 272 votes while the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ikuforiji, followed closely with 182 votes.
In other results, Pitan polled 112 votes, Shasore, a late entrant into the race, who is widely believed to be the candidate of Governor, Babatunde Fashola, polled 121 votes, Tola Kasali scored 68 votes, Disu had nine votes while 42-year-old Wahab, got seven votes.
Ope, Sutton, and Agbesanwa, all had no votes.
There were 91 invalid votes in the exercise that lasted for more than 24 hours.
Saturday Independent learnt from credible sources within the party that Fashola may be waiting for Tinubu and Ambode in the build-up to the general election, as he may choose to withhold funds for the party to prosecute the election. If this happens, it will further deepen the animosity between the godfather and his estranged godson.
According to our source, “Fashola’s candidate may have lost, but don’t forget the governor holds the key to the wealth of the state. He may decide not to fund the party in the forthcoming election and this may greatly affect Ambode’s chances. Don’t forget the fact that the governor also has a strategic role to play in the election, especially as regards security and INEC.
“Tinubu may have influence, but the fact remains that he is a former governor and he currently holds no political office. Fashola has the funds to spend. We can see him deploy it for Shasore especially in the areas of posters and adverts. But we hope the party leadership will wade in so that the war of attrition between the two men may not be a blessing for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” our source who refused his name in print said.
However, to forestall further anger within its folds, the party has set machinery in motion to address the grievances.
Chairman of Lagos State APC, Otunba Henry Ajomale, told Saturday Independent on Friday that, though, the party may not expect any crisis arising from the governorship primary that produced Ambode as the winner because of the transparent manner it was conducted, the party is better prepared to manage any situation.
“I don’t think we may have crisis from the governorship primaries in the state because the number of aspirants we have this time round were far less than what we had in 2007 and we had no crisis at that time,” he said.
Also, the victorious candidate, Ambode, in a statement said: “I commend other aspirants for putting up this impressive showing and I’m extending my hands of fellowship to them to join hands with me, not only in winning the election but also in moving the state forward.”
On the other hand, a prominent Lagos seer and founder of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Ayodele Elijah Babatunde, has warned the party not to think that all is well within its rank over the primary.
While sharing part of his revelations for 2015 with our correspondent, he said: “The Lagos APC has committed a blunder during their primary that may cost them the general election, if care is not taken, except they seek God’s favour.
“Not only did the party erred on the choice of candidate but the leader of the party is racing against time in terms of political grip on his followers. New leadership will emerge in the South West APC. I foresee betrayers feeding fat on the party during the 2015 general election.
“There will be a lot of protest votes during the poll. The leadership of APC should pray against sudden cloud hovering around the glory of the party in Lagos that may make them lose to the opposition. Apart from that, I could see Tinubu being betrayed and he would be shocked that he may lose relevance.
“Tell him, (Tinubu) and ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo, that they are in their last major political game. I pray that their stars will never deem. It is for the leadership of APC to make restitution before it is too late because I must be frank with you, the PDP is close to government house in Lagos State now than before. If the APC wins, the party leaders should expect the treatment they gave to the Afenifere leaders during Tinubu’s tenure as governor.”
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