Ambode: I’m ready for primaries

Weeks after he officially declared his interest to contest for a second term ticket on the APC platform, and despite the differences between him and Sen. Bola Tinubu, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has expressed his readiness to slug it out with other contestants at the primary.

A statement signed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, said Governor Ambode was ready to participate in the direct primary option opted for by the state chapter of APC.

The governor’s declaration came after several peace efforts to reconcile him and Tinubu reportedly failed.

The declaration was also coming three days after the party’s most powerful caucus, the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and the State Executive insisted on the conduct of primary to determine the candidate that will fly the party’s flag at the general elections.

Already, the Mandate Group, allegedly enjoying Tinubu’s support, had zeroed in on the candidacy of one of Ambode’s aides, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the current Chairman of Lagos State Property Development Council (LSDPC).

Although Governor Ambode was alleged to have sought the intervention of many party bigwigs, including President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, among others, forces against his re-election are said to have insisted on Tinubu not to back down.

“I am happy to restate my commitment to participate in that process having procured and submitted my nomination form and having formally declared my intention to seek a second term to continue on the path of unprecedented growth and development that our state has witnessed since 2015,” Ambode said in the statement. Meanwhile, 31 political parties have expressed their readiness to adopt Governor Ambode as their sole candidate.