– The supporters of Akinwunmi Ambode allege that the APC is planning to manipulate the forthcoming primary elections to favour another aspirant
– The aggrieved supporters say the APC compromised the process by adopting Sanwo-Olu when the primary election had not held
– The protesters allege that supporters of the governor do not have their APC membership cards to vote during the primaries
Some supporters of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday, October 1, staged a protest at the Lagos secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over what they called the party’s plan to manipulate the governorship primary to favour Jide Sanwo-olu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the about 200 protesters carried leaves and placards, expressing their displeasure with the electoral process.
Daud Olasheu, who led the protest, alleged that the party leadership had already compromised the process with the adoption of Sanwo-Olu, even before the primary election on Tuesday, October 2.
Olasheu, deputy APC local government chairman in Somolu, said that the party was taking a number of other steps to ensure that Ambode did not win the election.
He said they were sure that Lagos residents wanted the governor because of his administration’s strides, and that he would win in a free and fair contest.
“We are here today, first to show solidarity with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode ahead of the primary and to say we are solidly behind him.
“We are also here to show our resentment over the partial role the leadership is playing in the process, especially with the endorsement of Sanwo-Olu.
“We want to say the party leadership have already compromised the process even before the primary.
“We do not believe in the process and we want the national leadership to do its best to make the primary credible,” he said.
Olasheu alleged that thousands of Ambode’s supporters were not issued the party’s membership cards to enable them to vote in the election.
According to him, the failure to issue the cards is a clear ploy pave the way for the emergence of Sanwo-Olu.
He urged the National Working Committee of the party to take over the conduct of the primary and do its best to make the process credible.
The politician said Ambode had done well for the people of Lagos and so deserved support for re-election.
The report said none of the state party officials addressed the protesters as they were busy meeting with NWC officials on the primary.
The protesters stayed into the night while the meeting was on-going. They continued chanting solidarity songs in support of the governor.
