By Temidayo Akinsuyi

There was apprehension in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday when Wale Oluwo, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, renounced his membership of the party, vowing to work for Jimi Agbaje, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the next governorship election.

This created fear among APC chieftains who said they now doubt the loyalty of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to the party.

Oluwo, who hails from Epe, the hometown of Ambode, also said he had submitted his letter of resignation to the governor.

Though calls and text messages sent to Oluwo’s phone was not returned, a credible source in the party said that he had reached out to the camp of Agbaje ahead of the election, alongside his supporters.

In his resignation letter, Oluwo accused the leadership of the ruling party of being anti-democratic in the process through which Babajide Sanwo-Olu emerged as the flag bearer of the APC in the 2019 governorship election.

Sanwo-Olu, who enjoyed the support of Mandate Movement, a group loyal to Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the party, made history by beating a sitting governor to the ticket of the party.

Oluwo said the governorship primary had diminished the reputation of the APC in the state.

He alleged that a powerful group in the APC had been violating the principle of separation of powers and “intimidating critical institutions of democracy in the state”.

Part of the letter reads: “A few hours ago, I submitted to His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, a letter of resignation of my appointment as the Honourable Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources.

“Consequently, as a registered member of the All Progressives Congress, I have deemed it necessary to formally notify you of my intention to reconsider my membership status.

“My decision to resign is not unconnected with the events of the last few weeks, which have created a heavy moral burden for me.

“I have found it rather difficult to come to terms or rationalize the party’s conduct of the October 2018 primary elections, which were largely characterised by massive voter disenfranchisement, intimidation, violence, undue influence and non-compliance with all known principles of democracy.

“In the particular case of the gubernatorial primary, which was conducted using the ‘open ballot’ option in violation of the guidelines of the APC that specified the ‘open-secret ballot’ option, it is clear to me that the core principles of merit, competence, justice and fairness have been sacrificed by the APC on the altar of political expediency.

“The integrity-deficient nature of the primary has significantly diminished the hard-earned reputation of our state as a reference point for free and fair democratic practice.

“I have struggled for weeks to understand the rationale for the apparent desperation and brigandage brazenly displayed by the party apparatchik in the various elections. I had never thought such vicious attack could be unleashed on the progress that the state had made in its steady democratic journey.

“The indifference of the APC to the continued use of an arm of government by a powerful group within the party, to intimidate critical institutions of democracy in the state, undermines the doctrine of separation of powers, creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and impairs government’s ability to implement policies and programmes that will benefit the majority of the people.

“This is in conflict with my strongly held belief that group interest, no matter how powerful, must be subordinated to the interest of the majority.

“I am convinced that the present atmosphere of encirclement will not abate anytime soon. I, therefore, resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress, immediately.”

Speaking with Daily Independent on Wednesday, a chieftain of the party said though Governor Ambode had pledged his unalloyed support to the party and had promised to work for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the party’s governorship candidate, Oluwo’s actions had shown that there might be surprises ahead.

He said while Ambode had appealed to Epe residents to work for the APC, many of them who were still embittered were not listening to him and might work against the APC in the forthcoming election.

“To me, I am not surprised by the developments at all. After the primaries, the governor pledged to work for APC but a lot of people doubted him.

“So, if Oluwo, who hails from Epe like the governor, is now leaving the party, promising to work for our opponent, then we will begin to suspect the governor,” he said.

Another party chieftain who refused to be named also said like Oluwo, some loyalists of the governor might also leave the party.

“The coming days will be interesting. They thought they can rubbish a sitting governor like that?

“Ambode may have forgiven them and moved on but I can tell you a lot of his supporters and even Lagosians are unhappy,” he said.

Reacting to the development, Joe Igbokwe, the Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, said he won’t comment on the issue as Oluwo was inconsequential.

“I have no comment to make because he is inconsequential,” he said.

On its part, the Lagos PDP, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Gani Taofik, said by dumping the APC and speaking out against the injustice by the party leadership, Oluwo had written his name in gold.

The party also enjoined other members of the APC to join the PDP so as to free the state from the grip of APC leaders who were milking the state dry.

“We salute him. He has written his name in gold. He has taken a political step never to be regretted. We encourage all remaining true democrats to join the PDP now.

“Lagos has been in bondage of an unpopular rule and control. Indeed, with all that can be conceded to Ambode as due performances, he was denied a second term on the selfish, flimsy, vindictive excuse that he refused to fund APC chieftains.

“Our emphasis here is that APC is desperately holding onto Lagos State to enrich the chieftains directly or by bogus contracts awarded.

“We call on Lagos electorate to join this revolution to free Lagos. We stand on our honour and before God to pledge that Lagos IGR shall be wholesomely spent for Lagos,” the PDP said.

https://www.independent.ng/lagos-apc-doubts-gov-ambodes-loyalty/

By February, Ambode will tell Lagosisns his true position. Just watching events unfold ... APC will go down in Lagos. This is for sure.

Ambo the deadly striker. The last second goal Ambode will score go be straight dagger to the hearts of APC Lagos. My man playing his acrobatic volley in his head first.

Amitez:
By February, Ambode will tell Lagosisns his true position. Just watching events unfold ... APC will go down in Lagos. This is for sure.

Lie!!!!!!!!!

Sanwo olu will try to fill the 6th term of tinubu as a governor

I have been wondering what's giving Jimi Agbaje so much confidence. Now I know. They think Ambode has forgotten but Ondo man get stronghead no be small

If Ambode fails to fight this marginalization and injustice meted on him, then he will remain a fool for the rest of his life

hisexcellency34:
I have been wondering what's giving Jimi Agbaje so much confidence. Now I know. They think Ambode has forgotten but Ondo man get stronghead no be small

Bro, dont be deceived. Lagos politics is too sophisticated for a last minute move by a Governor who has no formidable structure. A greater % of Lagos voters belong to organized groups. They move to the polling units in groups. There are no surprises!

They are all Yoruba.

They shouldn't make mistake. It shouldn't be about party but a better manager who is competent and approachable.

Ambode should show that when a Lion is teased continually, it roars

The Lagos APC must be deluded to comfortably believe that Gov.Ambode will easily allow the charade coup it played on him because of a "baba soope godfather" go down without some complications.

I'm not an APC member but I make bold to say the governor did more greatly than the president in term of impacting on the people.

How the Lagos APC suddenly made a volte face and turned around to demonize Ambode the only beacon of light the APC have nationwide will remain a subjection of political discussion for a long time to come.

Sure! But after 19 years in power, Lagosians should try another alternative

MadamExcellency:
They are all Yoruba.

They shouldn't make mistake. It shouldn't be about party but a better manager who is competent and approachable.

hisexcellency34:
Sure! But after 19 years in power, Lagosians should try another alternative

You mean political party? No

Think individuals, evaluate competence and vision.

Ambode does not have ball. He can't do anything.

I think he is doing something already. Let's just watch

Randy100:
Ambode does not have ball. He can't do anything.

PDP primaries are done and dusted, all rifts settled, they are more united and had started campaigning, while APC is facing serious challenges from last primaries every day new wahala, house divided can never stand, hiding your problems using propaganda to coverup can only sink APC, the problems will explode when you guys never expected, it gradually happening, you can beat a child and ask him not to cry, Ambode will surprise many, just like what Ngige did to Tony Nwaonye during Anambra election, after Tony made Ngige his campaign director thinking Ngige has forgotten on election day Ngige revenged his kidnapped saga

Amitez:
By February, Ambode will tell Lagosisns his true position. Just watching events unfold ... APC will go down in Lagos. This is for sure.

Its long over due

#Trending Best moment on PUBG MOBILE
13 KILL & CHICKEN DINNER WON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=die-l29pA6s

APC should understand the African saying that you dont flog a child and expect him not to cry, it is your right as a mentor to discipline the child and it is the child's right to cry wen disciplined by flogging. This sis simply the case of Ambode

It seems the pigs have started their round 2 begging of ambode to help them support another afonja to lord over them.

Ambode is finished politically and it is even benevolence that has saved him from impeachment.

Sawolu is the real acting governor to every stakeholder while ambode has been striped of every party loyalty, it is normal for every appointee under him to begin to rearrange their own personal political career 2 months to the end.

It seems iPod group want to put ambode in trouble again until he comes up with another press broadcast to distance from the osus

Have being expecting this by the way



Read the Exchanges Between Governor Ambode and Jide Sanwo-olu

he played the card too early.
he should be ready for possible impeachment.

if i were him, i would make sure the party lose the coming election to save myself because there is no assurance he might not be tried in court after his tenure.

Which loyalty is Lagos APC still looking for in Ambode? Someone tell me please

APC is synonymous with Hypocrisy and double standards....

Ambode isn't performing, he wasn't given the nod for a 2nd term whereas President Buhari has been failing since May 29th 2015 and he was allowed by the APC to run for a 2nd term.

Tufiakwa!!!!

Reacting to the development, Joe Igbokwe, the Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, said he won’t comment on the issue as Oluwo was inconsequential.



“I have no comment to make because he is inconsequential,” he said.

+ Ambode

Who was Ambode politically before 'baba sope' He has not been done any wrong. He should be forefer greateful having privilegde to rule the state for 4 years on a platter of gold.

Wondering why Nigerians like to bite fingers that fe(e)d them. You should not share goverment money to any god father but you should also be loyal and not to be seen backstabing the person that God used to make you 'something' in life.
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We are are watching as things are unfolding

APC NEVER SEE ANYTHING YET

ambode wont go down easy

Lagos belongs to ApC...... Please follow my page on instagram @wolialara , i promise to follow back