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In this piece, ENIOLA AKINKUOTU X-rays the division within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress as the party picks its governorship candidate today

Nigerias commercial nerve centre, Lagos State, has only been ruled by one party since the return to democratic rule in 1999. The party, which has metamorphosed into what is now known as the All Progressives Congress may, however, lose its grip on the state over an internal crisis brewing ahead of the governorship primary which is set to hold today.

The leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was governor from 1999 to 2007, has been described as an astute politician largely responsible for the success the party has been experiencing at the polls.

However, the influence Tinubu wields as regards who becomes the next governor of the state seems to have caused a storm within the party which aspirants say if is not resolved properly could cause an implosion.

Twelve aspirants have been given the go-ahead to participate in todays primary. They are: a former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan; a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olasupo Shasore; the current Commissioner for Works, Obafemi Hamzat, and a former Accountant General of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Others are the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; the Senator representing Lagos-West senatorial district, Ganiyu Solomon; a former aide to Tinubu, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, Mr. Adekunle Disu, Mr. Wahab Tokunbo, Mr. Olanrewaju Ope and a former Commissioner for Rural Affairs, Mr. Tola Kasali.

Among all the aspirants, however, Ambode has been continually rumoured to be the choice of Tinubu.

Ambode, a retired civil servant, became a news item in April 2014 when several groups addressed press conferences about the plan by Tinubu to impose him on the party, an allegation which Tinubu denied

In May 2014, the suspicion was rekindled when he was openly endorsed by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, who stated unequivocally at a book launch that the elders and chiefs in the state had consulted and decided that Ambode would be the next governor.

Akiolu, who did not deny any plans of an imposition, said Tinubu was skilful in picking good successors having picked the incumbent, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, in 2007. He said Fashola had even performed better than Tinubu and urged the people of the state to have faith in Tinubu once more to pick a credible candidate.

Read the rest here:
Primary: Fashola dares Tinubu over successor