Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has congratulated Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who emerged victorious in the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Primaries conducted on Tuesday.

The move appears to have diffused the rancore that characterised the process that saw the governor not only losing out on his avowed second term bid but rupturing his relationship with both the party and his godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.. Ambode also urged all Lagosians to support the candidacy of his challenger..

“I wholeheartedly congratulate the winner of the Lagos State APC Primaries, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and urge all Lagosians to immediately support our party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 elections and work for the success of our dear party,” he said.

“Fellow Lagosians, the last few days have witnessed intense political activities that have gripped the attention of the nation and created palpable tension in the polity. I strongly believe that the time has now come for the state to move forward in order that the gains of the last three and half years are not lost.”

“Dear Lagosians APC is a great party and the interests of our beloved state must always supercede that of any person or group.”

“As Governor, I will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition in the remaining period of this administration and ultimately to the new Governor, come May 2019. I therefore appeal to all our party members that we remain one family and unite behind the candidate of the party, so that we can continue to move this state forward.”

Ambode said, “The progress of Lagos state is non-negotiable. It is a project that I have passionately worked for in the last three and half years as your Governor and one to which I will forever be devoted.”

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the leadership of our great party at state and national levels, all party faithfuls and all Lagosians. I thank all Lagosians for their faith and trust in me. I urge you not to relent in your support for our party as we prepare for the General Elections.”

Also, the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship panel has finally declared Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu winner of the party’s primaries held on Tuesday.
Chairman of the panel, Chief Clement Ebri, made the declaration on Wednesday in Ikeja, Lagos.

The declaration contradicts the panel’s earlier stand that the primary was invalid. Ebri, a former governor of Cross River state, had said that they were not part of the process and that the party chapter conducted the primaries entirely on its own

But the state chapter had disregarded the verdict of the panel and declared the result late on Tuesday night.

While affirming the result declared by the state chapter, Ebri said that Sanwo-Olu polled 970,851 votes to defeat the incumbent Governor Ambode who scored 72,901 votes.

“The Lagos State APC governorship committee collated the results in the 245 wards from our collating officers.”

“At the end of the exercise, the following votes were scored by the aspirants: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode scored 72,901 votes and Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu scored 970,851 votes.”

“Following the results, I, Clement Ebri, the Chairman APC Governorship Committee hereby declares Sanwo-Olu winner of the primary,” he said.

APC National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole had earlier affirmed the result of the primaries.