Ologunde, Afikuyomi, others battle for APC chairmanship in Lagos

The race to succeed Chief Henry Ajomale as the Lagos State chairman of the APC has reached a peak with high-level politicking, horse-trading and discussions already at fever pitch, Daily Trust can report.

Going by recent declaration, Ajomale who had been chairman of the party for more than eight years, since the days of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), would be stepping down.

The APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had during the party’s stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on April 24, declared that party officials who had served three or four terms at the ward, local government and state levels should leave.

Though Ajomale had often led the party to victory, it was learnt that names of prospective aspirants were already flying across the state’s political space.

Findings by Daily Trust revealed that among the candidates being considered are the former directorgeneral of Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organisation and APC chairman for Lagos West, Chief Funsho Ologunde; former senator representing Lagos Central under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Senator Adetokunbo Afikuyomi, and Senator Ganiyu Solomon who represented Lagos West between 2003 and 2011.

Another chieftain of the party, Mr Fouad Oki, who had been at loggerheads with the leadership which led to his suspension, had indicated interest in the chairmanship. Also in the race is one Sunday Ajose, a retired head of service.

A source told our correspondent that the battle was mainly among the trio of Ologunde, Afikuyomi and Solomon who were all staunch loyalists of Tinubu.

Spokesman of APC, Joe Igbokwe, assured that the party would conduct rancour-free state congress. On allegation of planned imposition of a candidate by some members of the party, he said those making the allegations had no electoral value.