Race to unseat Ambode heats up as Hamzat, lawmakers back Sanwo-Olu

Ahead of tomorrow’s All Progressives Congress (APC) to determine who carries the party’s flag in the 2019 governorship election in Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, one of the contestants has withdrawn from the race,

While announcing his withdrawal during a press conference on Saturday, Hamzat directed his supporters to vote for Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the party’s primary on Sunday.

He said he is stepping down for Sanwo-Olu because he can vouch for his personal integrity and intelligence.

“I’ve resolved to step down and source resources together with my brother and friend, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. So, all my supporters are hereby directed to vote tomorrow for Mr. Sanwo-Olu to emerge as the governorship candidate of the APC in Lagos,” he said.

“Apart from the fact that I can vouch for his personal integrity and intelligence, Mr. Sanwo-Olu is someone I’ve had close interaction with over the years.

“We are both fortunate to have worked closely with the present vice-president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, getting the wise counsel of those I consider to be political fathers and mothers.”

Meanwhile, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have adopted Babajide Sanwo-olu as the candidate they will support in the coming governorship primaries of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to a statement by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Honourable (Princess) Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, the decision was taken at a Parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers which took place at Lateef Jakande auditorium of the House on Saturday, 29 September, 2019, a day before the governorship primaries of the party.

The meeting was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. Out of the 40 members of the House, 36 were present at the meeting and all of them endorsed the decision and duly signed the statement announcing the decision.

The lawmakers stated that they were in agreement with the leadership of the party and the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) which had earlier endorsed Sanwo-olu for the governorship ticket.

Sanwo-Olu is seen as the major challenger of Akinwunmi Ambode, the incumbent governor of the state.

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A former banker, he is believed to have the backing of Mandate Movement, a group loyal to Bola Tinubu, chieftain of the APC.