Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday denied the story making the rounds that he had conceded defeat in the botched All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State governorship primaries.
The election which was to hold on Tuesday was postponed by the chairman of the National Working Committee of the APC, Mr. Clement Ebri, who said that the panel never authorised such to go ahead when the modalities were not followed as scheduled.
Briefing newsmen in Ikeja on the position of the NWC, Ebri said that the APC State Executives failed to turn in the list for officials appointed to supervise the election, adding that the list only got to the panel at about 3 pm, saying it would have been totally impossible to go ahead with the process without the list.
Ambode’s denial was through a statement by his campaign group, the Ambode Campaign Organisation (ACO).
The statement titled “Ignore Fake News read:
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has not conceded any defeat as primary election is yet to hold on Lagos State.
There are guidelines and procedures which the National Working Committee (NWC) has insisted must be followed in conducting a credible poll. These include the usage of membership slips and membership cards by registered party members as well as the adoption of secret ballot system which protects the electorate. The NWC came from Abuja with sufficient ballot papers which are yet to be distributed. As a loyal and responsible party member and a democrat, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is guided by the process announced by the party and shall await the new date of the governorship primary election.
We urge all party members and our teeming supporters to remain calm and peaceful and to refuse to be intimidated. Governor Ambode is still very much in the race and is poised to win in order to continue the good works he has been doing in the last three and half years.
Long live APC!
Long Live Lagos State!
Signed:
Ambode Campaign Organisation (ACO)
