APC panel makes U-turn, declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos primary

Babajide Sanwo-olu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) electoral panel appointed to conduct the Lagos governorship primary has declared Babajide Sanwo-Olu winner of the exercise.

Clement Ebri, chairman of the panel appointed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, had on Tuesday evening said he was not aware any primary held.

However, on Wednesday morning, Mr Ebri addressed a press conference in Lagos affirming the result announced by the Lagos chairman of the APC, Tunde Balogun.

Ebri, a former Cross River State governor, said Mr Sanwo-Olu polled 970,851 votes to defeat the incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who he said got 72,901 votes.

Mr Balogun had during a press conference late Tuesday insisted there were primaries in the state, contrary to Ebri’s position.

Mr Ambode lost the support of APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, who facilitated his emergence as governor in 2015.

Members of the Lagos APC National Assembly caucus, Lagos House of Assembly, local government chairmen and councillors, and members of Ambode’s cabinet also dumped him for Sanwo-Olu in the run-off to the primary.