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TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE writes on the crisis in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the party’s preparation for the 2019 general elections

Ahead of 2019 general elections, all seem not to be well within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State. The party, which had held sway in the country’s commercial capital since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, is currently divided over political aspirations and battle for control of its structures.

New Telegraph reliably gathered that the gale of endorsement of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for a second term by party leaders and groups across the three senatorial districts has triggered disaffection among those who felt the party is deviating from its pledge to insist on internal democracy in determining who gets what in 2019.

The controversy that trailed the one year extension of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led APC National Working Committee (NWC) and party’s executives at state levels has also polarised the party. Likewise the way APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is being treated at the national level and the new assignment given to him by the President Muhammadu Buhari to head the APC reconciliation committee.

According to New Telegraph investigations and information gathered from reliable sources, some of the issues affecting the Lagos APC as it prepares for 2019 general elections are; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s re-election, the tenure elongation of the party’s executives, ambitions of some party gladiators, board appointments, supremacy battle between Lagos and Abuja boys and Governor Ambode’s recent reshuffling of his cabinet, among others.

With the various issues in the front burner in Lagos APC, some political observers believe that the issues if not properly handled may tear the party apart and affect its performance in the forthcoming elections.

Ambode’s second term and endorsement

It is a normal trend for political office holders to enjoy second term if they perform to the expectation of the public in their first term in office. Going by the comments of members of the public, Governor Ambode, in the last 33 months has performed in terms of provision of infrastructure, which are visible in different parts of the state.

Therefore, many believe he should seek re-election. This, perhaps, explains why several groups and individuals have being endorsing him for second term in the last few months. But, despite the endorsements, there are some members of the party, who believe that the governor has not performed to expectation.

It was gathered from multiple sources in the party that despite the endorsements, the road to a second term is not yet clear for the governor as some members of the party are against his re-election on account of his relationship with some leaders and bloc in the party.

Some are of the view that lack of cordial relationship between the governors and some APC leaders may pose a big challenge to his return in 2019. They are of the view that the governor’s hope of relying on performance index alone to return to the Government House without necessarily carrying party members along may turn out to be a costly political gamble.

Those opposed to the governor’s ambition are said to be mounting pressure on Tinubu to draft his wife, Senator Oluremi, to the 2019 governorship race. But both Tinubu and his wife have kept mute over the issue, but there is a strategic campaign underground to ensure that the move becomes reality unless the governor reconciles with the warring factions in the party.

Extension of party executives’ tenure
The recent extension of the tenure of the Odigie-Oyegun-led APC National Working Committee (NWC) as well as the state executive committees by one year is also generating issues in Lagos APC based on the division among the party leaders over the issue.

Tinubu, a few weeks ago accused the party’s national chairman of frustrating moves by his committee to reconcile aggrieved members of the party across the country, but states chairmen of the party led by Lagos APC chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, threw their weight behind Odigie-Oyegun and the tenure extension.

Some members of the party in Lagos State, who are against the extension of Ajomale’s tenure as chairman of the party, have kicked against the APC National Executive (NEC) decision on the issue. Among those, who rejected the extension are members of the party’s executive led by the leader of the APC in Lagos Central senatorial district, Prince Tajudeen Olusi.

Prince Olusi, who spoke on behalf of the members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) after a Consultative Forum held at the State House Marina and attended by party leaders across the state last Tuesday, said the extension was against the spirit of the Nigerian and APC’s constitutions.

“We have considered the issue of extension of tenure and we are of the firm belief that the decision is a breach of the constitution of our party and of the country. We are against the elongation of tenure. We shall continue to make our decision known to the party and to the President,” he said.

The decision of Ajomale and some members of the APC NEC, who are from Lagos to act against Tinubu’s interest was seen by  many as a sign of crack in the state chapter of the party, but some party chieftains believe that their decision to support Odigie-Oyegun has nothing to do with Tinubu.

Cabinet reshuffle

The recent changes in Governor Ambode’s cabinet have also raised issues within the Lagos APC as members of the party have different views about the exercise. While some leaders are in support of the move, some kicked against it.

Those in support of it believe that the move was for better performance and to accommodate more interest ahead of the 2019 elections. But, those not in support, were of the view that the sack of some commissioners and special advisers was carried out to settle some political scores, especially against those who have issues with some gladiators in the party.

Battle for Lagos West

Though the National Assembly election is about 11 months away, the battle for senatorial positions in the state have started in earnest, especially in Lagos West as the incumbent, Senator Adeola Solomon, is likely to vacate the seat if his ambition to run for Ogun State governorship in 2019 sees the light of the day. The contest for the senatorial seat is pitching major gladiators in the state against one another.

New Telegraph gathered that the senatorial aspiration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, for Lagos West senatorial seat as well as the possible return of Senator Solomon for the contest, has divided leaders of the party in the state.

The party leaders are rooting for Aregbesola and Obanikoro respectively based on alleged Tinubu’s support for the two aspirants to replace Senator Solomon, who seem to be showing more interest in the Ogun State governorship race at the expense of his re-election as a senator. Aregbesola and Obanikoro are close associates of Tinubu and they both served as commissioners during Tinubu’s first term as governor of Lagos State.

While Aregbesola was Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Obanikoro headed the Home Affairs ministry. At present both of them have the ears of Tinubu as well as APC leaders, who will determine who gets what in the party. Speaking on Aregbesola’s senatorial aspiration, an APC chieftain who confided in New Telegraph said Tinubu has already instructed the party leaders to work for Aregbesola for the Lagos West senatorial seat.

“We are going to do everything to ensure that Aregbesola contests for the Lagos West senatorial seat and I can assure you that he will win the election because he is very popular and many political leaders in the state are solidly behind his aspiration. So, we have been instructed to work for him,” he said. The promoters of Obanikoro’s aspiration are also linking Tinubu to it. They said that one of the agreements made with the former minister before his defection to APC was the senatorial ticket in 2019.

Meanwhile, there are speculations that Senator Solomon may soon declare his ambition to return to the Senate as a result of the running battle he is having in Ogun State over his governorship aspiration. It is believed that his aspiration is a serious issue being considered in the party and some are of the view that his re-election bid may affect the party’s chances in the 2019 polls, especially in Alimosho, the area with largest votes in Lagos State.

Some leaders of the party believe that having shown more interest in Ogun State governorship, it will be political wrong for him to return to the Senate to represent Lagos West. But some people believed that having represented Lagos West very well, he should be given another opportunity to return to the Red Chamber.

Re-election of lawmakers

Apart from the tussle over who represents Lagos West in the Senate, the other two senatorial districts – Lagos East and Lagos Central are also on the spotlight, following moves by some aspirants to represent the districts.

Senator Remi Tinubu and Senator Gbenga Ashafa, are currently representing Lagos Central and Lagos East respectively and they are in their second terms, but there are some party members who angling to take over from them. While the coast is not yet to clear about Ashafa’s re-election; that cannot be said of Senator Tinubu, who has been endorsed by leaders of the party to run for another term.

Since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria, no senator has ever served more than two terms in Lagos State and this is one of the reasons why some aspirants are warming up to replace the duo.

But some political analysts also believe that any attempt to clear Senator Tinubu for the senatorial race and dump Ashafa and other lawmakers seeking to return to the legislative chambers may cause crisis in the party.

The argument is that if Senator Tinubu is considered good and worthy for endorsement, what stops others in her category from enjoying similar benefit.

But some are of the view that any move to return both of them to the Senate may also divide the party since many aspirants are eyeing the seats. There is also controversy over the plan of some lawmakers to return to either the Lagos State House of Assembly or National Assembly, especially those who are currently serving their third or fourth terms in the legislative chambers.

While some party leaders are backing them to return based on their popularity in their respective constituencies, some are pressurising them to pave the way for others to take over.

Political appointments

With the emergence of APC as ruling party at federal and state levels, most members of the party believed that they will benefit from appointments, but till date, many of them are still in the dark without any hope of getting appointments and this has damped their spirit.

Also in this category are those who were asked to step down during the 2015 general elections and last year’s local government election in the state. Some of these aspirants were told that would be considered with appointments at the state and federal levels, but three years after they are yet to be compensated. Some of those who were denied the opportunities of taking part in the council election are also battling for survival in the party without anything to show for sacrificing their political interest for the party’s victory in the poll.

Battle for party structures

The battle for the party’s structures is another bone of contention in the Lagos APC as various interest groups are positioning themselves ahead of the 2019 general elections. At present, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc, which is in charge of affairs of the party, has been accused of domination by All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) blocs.

The ANPP and CPC blocs are currently challenging the party leaders on the need for them to be recognised in terms of party and elective positions as well as appointments at the state and federal levels. Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that some APC members, who are mainly from the defunct CPC and ANPP are not satisfied with the state of things in the party and how they have been sidelined in some of the decisions by the party.

A group known as Broom United Movement (BUM), led Mr. Fouad Oki, has emerged in the party, demanding for genuine reconciliation and an end to imposition of candidates.

Lagos vs Abuja boys

The power tussle between those referred to as Lagos and Abuja boys is also a bone of contention in the party as the two groups are working at cross purposes.

The Abuja boys, who are sympathetic to former Governor Babatunde Fashola and APC National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, are locked in running battle with the Lagos boys, which comprises of Tinubu’s loyalists and members of the Ajomale-led state executive. Both groups are doing everything possible to gain control of the party ahead of the 2019 polls.

Speaking to New Telegraph in relation to some of the contentious issues in the Lagos APC, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Abiodun Salami, said the party will provide a level playing ground for every member of the party in the coming elections. “At the party level, we are going to be free, fair and transparent to everybody.

The process of choosing candidates will be free and fair. I can assure you that the party is going to ensure a level playing ground for everybody,” he said.

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