National leader of the All progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has laid down ground rules for all 13 Lagos gubernatorial aspirants ahead of the APC primaries.
The former Lagos State governor met with major party stake holders on Sunday, November 9, 2014 at his Bourdillion, Ikoyi, Lagos residence.
Tinubu promised the aspirants a level playing field, calling for them to imbibe fair play in the campaigns. He also used the opportunity to deny claims for several quarters that he had already endorsed a candidate, assuring them that primaries will be held in the state to produce a flag bearer for te party to replace incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola.
Party chieftains present for the meeting, which lasted from 8:30 pm to 10 pm included former National Chairman of the APC, Bisi Akande and state chairman of the party Henry Ajomale.
Notable among the aspirants present for the meeting were Akinwunmi Ambode, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Supo Sashore, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Dr. Femi Hamzat.
An unnamed source revealed that : “Asiwaju assured the aspirants that there will be primaries and that it would be open and transparent as he assured the aspirants to apply fair play in their campaigns.”The source also availed that Tinubu got a commitment from the aspirants to throw their full weight behind the aspirant who gets the party ticket.
An unnamed source revealed that : “Asiwaju assured the aspirants that there will be primaries and that it would be open and transparent as he assured the aspirants to apply fair play in their campaigns.”The source also availed that Tinubu got a commitment from the aspirants to throw their full weight behind the aspirant who gets the party ticket.
Another anonymous source said: “Our leaders advised us to take things easy. They promised to be fair to all of us. He (Tinubu) made it clear that there is no plan for consensus candidate.”
“But they asked us to work ahead of primaries. In fact, they all insisted on primaries and no suggestion of consensus candidate came up. Tinubu implored that whoever loses should take it in the spirit of sportsmanship, with the assurance that all will be given a level playing field.”
Tinubu was said to have had another meeting alone with the aspirants after this first was over.
