The political tension that has gripped Lagos state because of the holy contested governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have come to an end with Sanwo-Olu declared the winner of the primaries on Tuesday night.
The primaries were hotly contested by incumbent governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode and challenger Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The primaries which held across all the wards in the state was filled with drama and intrigue as Ambode was soundly defeated by Sanwo-Olu at the polls with embarrassing figures like 324 – 0 votes.
At the height of events, governor Ambode’s own deputy abandoned her boss, to support his rival who was subsequently declared winner of the governorship primaries by the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the APC, Mr. Tunde Balogun, on Tuesday night.
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Balogun declared that Sanwo-Olu polled 970,851 votes to defeat incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode with 72,901 votes.
Balogun declared the election free and fair while thanking members of the party for coming out to vote.
As Sanwo-olu was being declared the flag bearer for APC Lagos, the National Chairman of the Party, Adams Oshiomole who had been averse to the entire process eventually gave his assent and declared that the governorship primary election that took place in Lagos was valid and recognised by the national leadership of the party.
Earlier in the day, the National Working Committee panel sent from Abuja to oversee the election had declared the primary invalid.
The panel, led by Mr. Clement Ebri, had insisted that the process being held was illegal because the committee was still supposed to be making final preparations for the conduct of the primaries in the state saying they were not aware of who was conducting the process.
The state chairman of the party, Mr. Balogun had however insisted that the poll held and it was valid.
“It is my pleasure and delight to read the result of the election, conducted all over Lagos State, in all the 245 wards, to the public.
The results are as follows: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode recorded 72,901 votes; Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had 970,851 votes.
Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the winner of today’s primary election,” Balogun announced.