Ambode, a native of Epe, had emerged as a front runner for the race to clinch the party ticket ahead of other aspirants, with reports that he was Tinubu’s preferred choice to succeed Governor Babatunde Fashola.
Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu had recently also endorsed Ambode at a public event, giving credence to the choice of the party hierarchy and notable leaders in the state to settle for the former Accountant General. But the party had said it had not officially picked its governorship candidate.
The development had angered some groups within the APC in Lagos, who see the handwriting on the wall, of a repeat of the events of 2007, when Fashola was picked by Tinubu, much to the chagrin of other aspirants.
Recently there were some sponsored advertorial aimed at discrediting Ambode, suggesting that he does not hail from Lagos.
But a close associate of Tinubu and a party chieftain, who did not want his name, mentioned in print, toldSunday Independent that the former Lagos Governor is already laying down structures to ensure that Ambode gets a smooth ride at the party primaries later in the year.
“Ambode is Tinubu’s choice as it stands now and I can tell you that authoritatively. Yes, there are some other aspirants who are grumbling, but Tinubu is not new in the terrain. This was the same scenario that played out in 2007 when Tinubu settled for Fashola against all odds, is Lagos not better for it today during the administration of Fashola.
“Ambode is a technocrat and is a Christian as well, so his choice is not only strategic but one that Lagosians will come to appreciate in the long run. Besides it fits in to the current political mood in the state ”, the associate said.
Asked if Governor Fashola was favourably disposed to the choice of Ambode, the party chieftain said, “Fashola was a product of the same process in 2007 and Ambode has also worked with him as well, so he knows his worth. I believe that would not be a problem whatsoever for both of them to work together to ensure victory for the party come February 28, 2015”.
Sunday Independent also learnt that Tinubu has initiated series of meetings with the 57 local government chairmen with an aim to get them to begin to map out strategies to ensure Ambode’s acceptance at the grassroots ahead of his official announcement as the party’s flag bearer and to give him a block vote.
But other aspirants are not throwing in the towel yet. Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, popularly called GOS by his supporters, who seemed to have been ruled out of the race with the zoning of the slot to the Lagos East Senatorial Zone, is not losing sleep about realising his ambition.
Representing Lagos West Senatorial Zone at the National Assembly, GOS who recently opened his campaign office in Ikeja, a source close to him, said he is still keen to contest the race.
“He is not backing out of the race. He will be contesting the race from Ikorodu. The party leaders know that GOS will win in free and fair primaries and we are hoping that they will shun any move to impose any candidate.”
“It is going to be a fight to finish and GOS camp and battle ready”, the source, who is a supporter of Solomon said.
Another aspirant who has officially declared his ambition, Leke Pitan is also hopeful that the party will subscribe to election primaries. Pitan, who is backed by the Mandate Group was also one of those tipped as a possible candidate until Ambode’s emergence into the race.
The Mandate Group, it would be recalled had vowed to vehemently oppose any decision by the party to foist any unpopular candidate on them.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who is also eyeing the seat, Sunday Independent learnt is also working round to clock and positioning himself, in the eventuality the party hierarchy changes its decision and decides to throw the race open.
Ikuforiji’s chances are also buoyed by the fact that he originally hails from Epe division in the Lagos East Senatorial Zone, albeit he currently represent Ikeja constituency in the House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, Governor Fashola is still making frantic efforts to sell the credentials of his Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as his preferred successor.
Fashola’s choice of Hamzat is premised on the latter’s firsthand knowledge of the workings of his administration since 2007 having served as Commissioner for Science and Technology from 2007 to 2011 and the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, a position he occupies till death.
Hamzat’s chances however seem to have been dimmed by the decision of his father to take up a title in Ogun state.
Source: Daily Independent