In Lagos, the stage is now set for another tangle between the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a former Commissioner for Establishment and Pensions and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje.

Agbaje who also contested against incumbent Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode in 2015, was on Friday declared winner of the governorship primary of the PDP in Lagos state.

He was declared winner of the primary after polling 1100 votes to defeat Mr Adedeji Doherty, who scored 742 votes.

Announcing the results about 4.40pm, the Chairman of the Primary Electoral Committee, Senator Victor Oyofo, said that the party had demonstrated democracy in action with the successful conduct of the primary.

He commended both men for the way they conducted themselves throughout the process, saying that the party was proud of them.

“I, Senator Victor Kassim Oyofo, with all humility, announce the results of the PDP primary for the office of governor in Lagos State, which took place yesterday and was concluded this afternoon.”

“There were two contestants, Chief Olujimi Agbaje and Chief Adedeji Oluwagbemiga Doherty. It was a keenly contested election, very fair. In my view, an example of what democracy should be. They fought a good fight, the process was open, everyone expressed their desires and the votes have counted.”

“At the end of the exercise, Agbaje had a total score of 1100 votes, and the runner up, Engineer Adedeji Doherty, had a healthy 742 votes.”

“By the powers conferred on me by the Electoral Act and the Constitution of our party, I wish to announce and declare Mr Jimi Agbaje as winner of this contest,” he said.

Oyofo congratulated Agbaje as well as his counterpart, saying he had no doubt the party was on the path to win Lagos.

Agbaje, in his speech, said he accepted the victory and congratulated Doherty for giving a good fight.

“Let me first of all formally accept to be the gubernatorial candidate of our party in the 2019 election. I will of course congratulate specially Engineer Adedeji Doherty, for the keen contest we have just concluded. When you are in a race, you must know you either win or lose. Deji has demonstrated the capacity to accept what has happened. I congratulate you once again and I will be soliciting your support in the months ahead,” he said

Agbaje said his mission was to take Lagos to greater heights, and called for the support of all party members in pursuing the goal.

Earlier, Doherty congratulated Agbaje, saying that his victory was not for him alone, but for all members of the party.

He said the race to claim Lagos was worth it to bring more development to the state, promising to work with Agbaje to achieve the goal.

Sanwo-Olu who had the backing of elders of the party and the powerful Mandate Group, was on Tuesday declared winner of the APC primary.

His entry into the heated race was the aftermath of the refusal of both the elders and the Mandate group led by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to support Ambode in spite of his sterling performance and popular appeal, for second term. Tinubu said Ambode performed in governance but did not perform as a party man which analysts interpreted as not pandering enough to the financial demands of the elders of the party.

This some fear could lead to protest votes for Agbaje by a populace irked at the unfair treatment meted to Ambode, the first incumbent to be denied a second term ticket and may re-ignite the startling victory of National Republican Convention (NRC), Mr Michael Otedola made possible by the bickering amongst members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Over 30 parties including the PDP had earlier offered their platforms to Ambode but the governor opted to back and mobilise support for the party’s choice.

While affirming the result declared by the state chapter, Chairman of the APC Governorship Panel, Mr Clement 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.”

Said Ebri, a former Cross River state governor, “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.