10 Lagos Governorship Candidates Step Down For Ambode

Days after the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the presidential election, 10 governorship candidates of opposition parties in Lagos State yesterday dropped their ambition and declared total support for Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the APC governorship flagbearer in the state. The affected candidates formally dropped their ambition at a gathering attended by party chairmen and supporters of the affected candidates at  Airport Hotel, Lagos.

Speaking on behalf of the candidates, the governorship candidate of Independent Democrats (ID), Mr. Obadia Akinola explained that the decision was taken in the interest of the people of the state. He said that the decision to drop their ambition and endorse the candidature of Ambode in the April 11, 2015 governorship poll was unanimously arrived at a meeting of the candidates.

He urged their supporters and admirers to cast their votes for Ambode during the governorship election, saying, “By this declaration, we enjoin all our supporters across the state to note this declaration. We are saying it loud and clear that Akinwunmi  Ambode is our chosen candidate to lead in our quest to take Lagos to the next level.”

The candidates that withdrew from the poll are: Adeshina Buruji, Accord Party (AP); Obadia Akinola, Independent Democrats (ID); Ishola Aregbesola, Action Alliance (AA); Babatunde Sarumi, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); and Abiodun Oyegunle, African People Alliance (APA). Others are Victor Adeniji, KOWA Party; Adeshina Olayokun, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Sesan Olatunde, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP; Sylvester Eze, Citizens Popular Party, CPP; and Mrs Pauline Ojochide, Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA).
Meanwhile, a group, the coalition of Christian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) in Lagos State has also endorsed the Ambode, as its candidate for the April 11, 2015 governorship poll.