The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in defiance to the position of the party’s National leadership has declared Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu as winner of Tuesday’s governorship primary.
The Clement Ebiri-led Electoral Panel, had on Tuesday declared the election that produced Sanwo-Olu as winner as illegal and therefore a nullity. He insisted the primary did not hold in Lagos, just as the National leadership of the party said it had postponed the governorship primary in the State indefinitely to douse tension generated within the party in the state.
However, the Lagos State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, in total disregard of those pronouncements announced Sanwo-Olu as the victor in the primary.
Announcing the results to newsmen in Ikeja, he said that Sanwo-Olu polled 970, 851 votes to defeat Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, who polled 72, 901 votes.
Ebiri had said that the primary did not hold in the state and announced its indefinite postponement. He had also insisted that the state chapter lacked the authority to conduct the party governorship primary election on its own.
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Prior to the purported primary organised by the state both parties had on Monday, at a meeting, disagreed on the mode of primary to adopt.
Balogun thanked party members for coming out en masse to participate in the primary, saying that their participation reflected their belief in democracy.
“I am aware that conflicting information has been circulating on our primary election, but I must tell you that the election was held and it was free and fair.
“It would be very painful to disenfranchise the over 1.5 million members who voted across the 245 wards in the state.
“At the end of the exercise, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu polled 970, 851 votes and Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode scored 72, 901 votes. With this, Mr Babajide is declared winner.
“I thank party members for participating in the election and their dedication to democracy,” he said.
