By Ayo Kehinde
The All Progressives Congress, APC has moved its planned governorship primaries for two states of Lagos and Imo, previously planned for Sunday alongside others, to Monday.
According to National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole the change in date was done for logistic reasons.
For one, Imo and Lagos are two of the few states of the party that has chosen the direct primaries to select the governorship candidate of the party, for obvious reasons.
In Lagos, where the incumbent Governor Akinwinmi Ambode had been having a running battle with leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the party had chosen the direct primary to settle the matter, while Ambode and Babajide Sanwo-Olu would have to face the members on Monday in a two-way race with the withdrawal from the race on Saturday by the third aspirant, Obafemi Hamzat who withdrew for Sanwo-Olu.
In Imo, nine aspirants are in the race, battling to compete with Governor Rochas Okorocha’s son-inlaw, Uche Nwosu, whom he is scheming to impose. Others are Senator Hope Uzodinma, deputy governor Prince Eze Madumere, Sir Jude Ejiogu and Barr. Chima Anozie, Dr. Chris Emenike Nlemoha , Sir Eche George Ezenna , Chukwudi Celestine Ololo and Air Commodore Peter Gbujie.
Meanwhile, the race has narrowed for Ambode as the Governor’s Advisory Council(GAC) of the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to pick the party’s governorship ticket for the 2019 election in the state.
Sen. Anthony Adefuye, a member the council, announced the endorsement to party members on Saturday, at a stakeholders’ meeting at the ACME Road state party secretariat.
The meeting was chaired by national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and was attended by other prominent members of the party such as Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa.
Apart from the support from the GAC, Sanwo-Olu currently enjoys the support of 36 of the 40 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly.
