Tinubu Versus Ambode: APC Chieftains Threaten To Revolt Against Party’s National Leader

Tinubu Versus Ambode: APC Leaders In Lagos Threaten To Revolt Against Party’s National Leader

Lagos, Nigeria News 17th September, 2018: Members of the political family of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu have threatened to vote against his choice, should he back the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for a second term.

The decision, New Telegraph reports, followed pressures being mounted on the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu, from different quarters to back Ambode for second term.

According to New Telegraph reports, quoting a ‘reliable source’ in the party who said Tinubu’s loyalists, who are majorly in Mandate Movement, held a meeting in Lagos yesterday and unanimously decided to challenge their leader if he backpedals to support Ambode. Tinubu is believed to be backing the Managing Director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC), Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The supporters of the APC national leader are mobilising for Sanwo-Olu to emerge as APC governorship candidate during the party’s primary election on September 25. According to the source, Tinubu’s loyalists said they were dissatisfied with the way they were treated by the governor despite supporting him at the expense of other aspirants during the 2015 elections. They, therefore, said that they were now solidly behind Sanwo-Olu.

“We have gone far in our support for Sanwo- Olu and at present, it will be difficult for us to back out from our desire to stop Ambode’s re-election. “In fact, some of the party leaders resolved at the meeting that they are ready to challenge Tinubu for the first time since 1999 if he decides to support Ambode’s re-election.

New Telegraph quoted them as saying that they would embark on protest votes if Tinubu asks Sanwo-Olu to withdraw from the governorship race. “The present situation has nothing to do with Tinubu alone; it is about key leaders of the APC, who are not happy about how they were treated by the governor. They worked hard for Ambode, but despite their support for the governor, he abandoned them and treated them badly.

The party leaders resolved at the meeting that if Tinubu supports Ambode, they would embark on protest votes against him,” he said. New Telegraph learnt that Ambode met with Tinubu in Abuja on Friday for five hours where the governor made efforts to appease the APC National Leader. Sources told our correspondent that after the meeting, Tinubu softened his hard stance against the governor, but without concrete support on his reelection bid. Tinubu reportedly told Ambode that the final decision is with the party leaders. Consequently, the former governor asked Ambode to go and dialogue with the party leaders in the state.

“There was no concrete commitment after the meeting. For five hours, Ambode tried hard to sort out his disagreement with his political benefactor. The governor was told to go and appease the Lagos APC leaders. “We are hopeful that the issues would be resolved, probably after the Osun governorship election holding this Saturday,” the source was quoted by New Telegraph as saying.

To Receive Free News Updates, Add To Your WhatsApp: 0802 739 7554; To Publish Your Articles Or News Stories, Email editor@skytrendnews.com.