PRIMARY ELECTION: AMBODE CONGRATULATES APC LAGOS EXCO

Vice Chairman - South West, All Progressives Congress, Chief Funso Ologunde, State Treasurer, APC Lagos, Princess Rebecca Ajose, State Chariman APC Lagos, Otunba Henry Ajomale, APC governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode and Acting State Secretary, Femi Saheed during a thank-you visit by Akinwunmi Ambode to the APC Lagos Secretariat at Acme Road, Ikeja.


 
The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, has congratulated the leadership of APC in Lagos State, saying the party has demonstrated openness, fair-play and internal democracy that is worthy of emulation by other political parties in Nigeria.

He made this known on Wednesday morning when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Henry Ajomale-led executive council of the APC at the party secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos State. “I am here to congratulate and express my gratitude to the leadership of our party in Lagos for the successes recorded so far in the primary elections conducted by the party in Lagos State. The rancor-free, open and transparent manner in which the primary elections to the State House of Assembly, National Assembly and for the Governorship slot were conducted, in the full glare of the media and various observers, stood the All progressive Party (APC) out as the party worthy of emulation,” he said.

According to the governorship candidate, it should be to the credit of Ajomale’s EXCO that winners have been chosen according to the wishes of the delegates, and are showing magnanimity in victory just as those who were not so lucky have demonstrated spirit of sportsmanship. “Unlike elsewhere where parallel elections are being held by different factions; where aspirants are constrained to wear bullet-proof vests and casualties being recorded, the APC primary elections under your watch have recorded no violence whatsoever. Not a single candidate has threatened to leave the party on account of the conduct of the primaries. Instead, aspirants are congratulating winners with a promise to ensure victory for the party at the February 2015 elections.”

Ambode who served as the Accountant General of Lagos State up till his voluntary retirement in 2012 said: “I am proud of our party, and I am sure you share in this enthusiasm. The reason is simple: APC in Lagos State has demonstrated strength, popularity and acceptability as the preferred choice of the people. We have done this through the huge number of delegates that voted at our primary election last Thursday. Our competitor could only muster a fraction of our delegates, even at that, their figures could barely add up. In line with its progressive orientation, our party has shown to the world its sterling qualities; that ours is a unified, non-acrimonious, and accountable party. We have also shown that internal democracy can thrive and be well communicated to the whole nation. This is what your leadership has achieved. This is what has been clearly communicated and which is being applauded even by critics.

“This feat is as commendable. Indeed, it is a message to other states and to every Nigerian that democracy has found a solid root in our great party. It is a clear message that not only can other parties learn from us, but that the APC deserves to retain our dear state Lagos and take over the federal structure in 2015. No one can be in doubt any longer that as our members converge on Lagos today for our national convention, the same spirit of openness, fairness and camaraderie will prevail in choosing our presidential candidate.”

The Epe-born technocratic added that he is a product of a Lagos that is an epitome of progressive development, good governance and democratic ethos. “I am a product of a remarkable process made possible by the party leadership and the good people of Lagos, for which I am eternally grateful. My promise at all times, therefore, is to submit to the leadership and direction that our party provides and to continue with the spirit of excellence that the two successive administrations have laid down,” he stated.