APC clears 12 Lagos aspirants for primaries

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State yesterday cleared 12 aspirants intending to succeed Governor Babatunde Fashola in 2015.Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Obafemi Hamzat abruptly cancelled the formal declaration of his governorship aspiration slated to hold today at The Haven, Ikeja.A source said Hamzat cancelled his declaration due to the party primaries, which were suddenly rescheduled to begin today.The aspirants were certified in Ikoyi for the party primaries, which had been rescheduled to Thursday, following the release of the partys guidelines.At the Ikoyi meeting, the party cleared Hamzat, the Senate Minority Whip, Ganiyu Solomon, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former Accountant-General Akinwunmi Ambode and former Commissioner for Health Leke Pitan.Other aspirants are Tayo Ayinde, former Attorney-General Olasupo Shasore, former Commissioner for Special Duties Tola Kasali and Adetokunbo Wahab, among others.The clearance has ruled out the possibility of presenting a consensus candidate.The source said the governor has been supporting Shasores governorship aspiration. Shasore has been Fasholas original candidate from the beginning. But his aspiration has violated the partys zoning rule, which has been in force since 1999. The same rule was applied in 2007.The partys National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu came to power in 1999 from Lagos West and Fashola in 2007 from Lagos Central. It is now the turn of Lagos East senatorial district. It is ironic that Fashola is supporting an aspirant outside the partys zoning calculation.The source said Ambode remained the frontrunner among the aspirants, noting that he had built strong grassroots support base; well-connected with various professional groups and elicited massive support from youths, tradesmen and artisans.The post APC clears 12 Lagos aspirants for primaries appeared first on The Nation.]]>
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