The Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organization (AMCO), the support group of former Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has vowed to retake the state from Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the incumbent governor, in 2023.
The chairman of AMCO and former Commissioner for Energy and Mineral resources, Wale Oluwo who made the declaration on Sunday, said plans had been concluded to return the Ambode group to the governorship position in the state.
This is coming about a week after the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) endorsed Sanwo-Olu for the second term in office.
The former governor’s group leader faulted GAC for endorsing Sanwo-Olu, saying the stance of GAC is not a total reflection of APC members
Oluwo said “Ambode is seriously interested in what happens in Lagos,” adding that that the former governor had indicated readiness to stand by his ideals.
He, however, remarked that the group may not necessarily present Ambode as candidate, but will present a challenger to Sanwo-Olu.
He claimed that feasibility studies have been conducted and that their outcome showed Lagosians were not getting dividends of democracy under the present administration compared to what was obtainable during the previous administration in the state.
“Performance for performance, the administration of Sanwo-Olu cannot be compared to what Ambode achieved. You have to start with security and infrastructure, we can show a lot of things now. But for this government, well this is not the time to start tearing ourselves apart,” he said.
“The way that the GAC sponsored its candidate is the same way that we will do that for our own candidate too. And members of the party will have the option of determining which of the candidates, either AMCO or GAC, they will like to vote for. We acknowledge that Sanwo-Olu has picked his nomination form, the AMCO candidate will also do his own. And the primary will happen.
“For AMCO, we are participating at all levels of the election. From Governorship to the House of Assembly. We will field candidates for all positions. Our candidate will not be Akinwunmi Ambode. That is not where we are going. We will present our own aspirant and he would challenge the governor for the seat in Lagos.
“The process of presenting our own candidate is almost concluded and I can assure you that by early next week, that candidate will be announced. The GAC is only promoting their own interest by announcing Sanwo-Olu’s as their candidate.”
