Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has given up on his pursuit of a second term ticket, by conceding defeat to rival Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In a concession speech, the governor pledged to support the All Progressives Congress, APC, to emerge winner of next year’s governorship election.
Sanwo-Olu, heavily backed by trounced Ambode in the primary conducted in 245 wards in Lagos on Tuesday.
The electoral panel sent to supervise the primary initially rejected the result. But in a dramatic volte-face, the Clement Ebri committee on Wednesday accepted the result as submitted by the APC chapter in Lagos.
While affirming the result declared by the state chapter, Ebri concurred that that Sanwo-Olu polled 970,851 votes to defeat the incumbent Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode who scored 72,901 votes.
“The Lagos State APC governorship committee collated the results in the 245 wards from our collating officers.
“At the end of the exercise the following votes were scored by the aspirants: Gov Akinwunmi Ambode scored 72,901 votes and Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu scored 970,851 votes.
“Following the results, I, Clement Ebri, the Chairman APC Governorship Committee hereby declares Sanwo-Olu winner of the primary,” he said.
Ambode has therefore congratulated Sanwo-Olu and urged Lagosians to support him in the general election. According to him, Ambode said,
"The last few days have witnessed intense political activities that have gripped the attention of the nation and created palpable tension in the polity. I strongly believe that the time has now come for the State to move forward in order that the gains of the last three and half years are not lost.
"Dear Lagosians, APC is a great party and the interests of our beloved State must always supercede that of any person or group. It is in this regard that I wholeheartedly congratulate the winner of the Lagos State APC Primaries, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and urge all Lagosians to immediately support our party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 elections and work for the success of our dear party.
"As Governor, I will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition in the remaining period of this administration and ultimately to the new Governor, come May 2019.
"I therefore appeal to all our party members that we remain one family and unite behind the candidate of the party, so that we can continue to move this state forward.
"The progress of Lagos state is non-negotiable. It is a project that I have passionately worked for in the last three and half years as your Governor and one to which I will forever be devoted.
"I wish to use this opportunity to thank our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the leadership of our great party at state and national levels, all party faithfuls and all Lagosians.
"I thank all Lagosians for their faith and trust in me. I urge you not to relent in your support for our party as we prepare for the General Elections."
SHAKIRU SEIDU
Publisher, MegaXpression magazine.
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