The Integrity Youth Alliance has condemned the statement credited to the Lagos State former governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, through his campaign group, Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organisation (AMCO), saying they have concluded plans to determine who becomes the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate and who succeeds the incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the 2023 election in the state.
In a press release on Sunday, May 1, 2022, the National Coordinator of the Alliance, Adewole Kehinde, said that the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) that endorsed Gov. Sanwo-Olu also endorsed Former Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, and heaven did not fall.
“We should not forget that the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) was formed and headed by the APC’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and consists of major stakeholders of the party within the state, overseeing the affairs of the party. It takes major decisions, such as the mode of primaries, the candidates of the party in elections, and even the executives of the party.
The statement read further, “The members of the Governor’s Advisory Council include the wife of the APC leader and senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, and her two colleagues in the red chamber, Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) and Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East). Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos State and current Minister of Works and Housing; Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; ex-Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji; and former deputy governor, Mrs. Idiat Oluranti Adebule.
“The other core members are 85-year-old Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Otunba Henry Ajomale (former Lagos APC chair), Prince Abiodun Ogunleye (ex-deputy to Tinubu), Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Otunba Bashiru Alebiosu, Omooba Murphy Adetoro, Sen Anthony Adefuye, Alhaji S.A Seriki, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun, and Prince Rabiu Oluwa. Chief M. A. Taiwo, Alhaji Mutiu Are, Dr. Yomi Finnih, Omooba Muyiwa Sosanya, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, Mr. Wale Edun, and Mrs. Kemi Nelson, a former APC Deputy National Woman Leader, are among the others.
“Ambode cannot claim to be wiser than the above-listed personalities and elders that endorsed Gov. Sanwo-Olu for a second term.
“We wish to remind the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organisation (AMCO) that any activities outside the APC constitute anti-party and the consequence is there in the Constitution of the APC.
“The Governor’s Advisory Council’s endorsement represents the positions of the Lagos APC members since the composition of the council includes APC leaders across the state who are close to grassroots members, the statement concluded.
