LAGOS: “Ambode faction’s congress, other are naming ceremonies”

Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has dismissed the two other parallel congresses factions of the state APC held I Lagos on Saturday.

The governor said they were mere “naming ceremonies”.

One of the parallel congress was led by former Gov Akinwumi Ambode, and many elieve he has the backing of Yobe Gov. Mala Buni, the national caretaker committee chairman.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Gboyega Akosile, disclosed this in a statement after the congress on Saturday which produced Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi as state chairman of the APC.

Sanwo-Olu said in the statement that the authentic congress was the one attended by card-carrying members of the party at the venue announced by the State Congress Committee, and supervised by INEC and the national executive committee of the APC.

Sanwo-Olu described the process as “simply decisive, non-controversial,” expressing his confidence in the new team that will be steering the party’s affairs in Lagos.

He said Ojelabi possessed a brilliant resume as a loyal APC chieftain, noting that the new team would work to deepen the party’s stronghold in the state.

“We have come to the end of the state congress. All party members are happy with the peaceful conduct of the process and the outcome. I’m certain that the leadership that emerges from this exercise is a round peg in a hole,” the statement read.

“The man (Ojelabi) that will be leading the team has a brilliant resume as a trusted hand, at the National Assembly level, State Executive Council level, political and community leadership level. He has over 20 years of political experience.”

The newly elected chairman Ojelabi praised the governor for a hitch-free congress, saying it was a sign of good leadership ingrained in the party by the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He also thanked the past caretaker committee members for their service, especially their effort to grow the party membership and its reach.