The political permutations for the soul of Lagos, Nigeria’s commerxial capital, in the forthcoming elections is taking a twist with opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) dangling the carrot of its Governorship ticket for the immediate past Governor of Lagos, Akinwumi Ambode.
The PDP spokesman, Ganiu Taofik, who said this in an interview, added that as a former governor, Ambode’s chances of clinching the party’s ticket are good.
He said: “He should have (some chances) having been a governor of the state. He sure would have people who love him and of course, people whom he may have stepped on their toes as well.”
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But the APC, through its publicity secretary in Lagos State, Seye Oladejo, advised Ambode against joining the PDP.
Oladejo said the PDP had made a similar offer to Jandor, advising Ambode not to be deceived by the PDP’s booby trap.
“I think the PDP is idle and the PDP is just promising people. How many governorship tickets do they want to give out? Haven’t they promised the ticket to Jandor? So, are they now reaching out to Ambode?
“One would expect that Mr Akinwunmi Ambode would know better than to dance to the tune of deceit in the PDP. What is the PDP’s record in governorship elections in Lagos State? Anyone who gets a PDP ticket is certain of failure,” Oladejo said.
The indication that Ambode may have some plans up his sleeves was a February 1 Facebook post where he urged the youths to ready with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to make the 2023 election a youth affair.
Ambode said: “After all we have been through, God has been faithful. Thank you for the overwhelming endorsement of our modest contributions to the growth of Lagos. It can only get better for Lagos, and indeed Nigeria. The youths are coming. The power is in their hands. Go and get your Permanent Voters Card (PVC) ready. Your future is NOW!”
Ambode is 58-years old. And when it comes to the real deal, he has a track record of achievements while as Lagos governor to show.
So far, Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the undisputable kingmaker of Lagos politics.
PDP has tried to wrestle power from him without any success. Ahead of the 2023 election, the PDP seems to be favouring a different tactic – handing its governorship ticket to a former ally of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an insider into the game of political control of Lagos State.
The most prominent of the candidates that have been touted to fly the PDP’s ticket includes the founder of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, Olajide Adeniran, better known as Jandor. He has already defected to the PDP in a ceremony where leaders of the party promised him the governorship ticket.
Jandor is believed to have the backing of Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, and some others not too comfortable with the self-syle kingmaker, the Asiwaju of Lagos (leader of Lagos).
Like Jandor, another Tinubu ally that may also go rogue is a former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.
