Lagos APC leaders meet Ajose, promises free, fair guber primary
Ahead of the May 21 gubernatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, the party’s State Working Committee (SWC) has met with a frontrunner aspirant and Philanthropist, Samuel Ajose, promising toensure free, fair and credible electoral process across the state.
The party leaders, who were joined by the South-West Organizing Secretary, Lateef Ibirogba, said that the APC national secretariat insisted that the primary pattern should follow certain procedure in the 2026 electoral act, the process for the exercise to pick the candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election will be done in accordance with the law.
Assuring Ajose, who is popularly called SMA Gold, on Thursday, the Lagos APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, said that the philosophy of the party would be strictly adhered to during the primary to ensure that the aspirants who gets the highest votes is declared candidate for the party.
Ojelabi noted that this formed major part of the discussion the party leaders had with the aspirant who came to inform the SWC of his intention to contest for the seat.
“He’s not new. Ajose’s visit is like a family visit. He’s a member of All Progressive Congress (APC). And Ajose came home to come and inform the party officially that he’s vying for the position of Governorship of Lagos state for 2027.
“During the meeting, he highlight what he has in stock that prompted decision to make himself available for the gubernatorial seat. And we give him assurance that as far as the party is concerned, aside from the directive from the National Secretariat of our party, that we are going for either concessions or direct primaries.
“We’ll be there to provide a level playing field to all the aspirants. And I’m sure some of you are fortunate to be in when we are talking, when he said he believed in the philosophy of the party. He’s of the progressive family.
“He’s into this race to make an impact in deepening our democracy, contributing his own quota towards development of Lagos State, which our party is known for.
“This is the only party you will see the aspirants moving from one local government to the other, soliciting for the support of the members of our party.
“Before it gets to the electorate, have you seen any other party doing what our aspirants are doing? So the field is there.
“And it’s just a matter of a few weeks to the conduct of the party primaries. And we assure you that you have not seen anything. You see wonders as to the way in which we conduct it”.
Responding, Ajose dismissed reports that he was stepping down from the race, saying By God’s grace, I’ll be contesting.
The aspirant stressed that the meeting was to get the assurance of the party leaders that the primary exercise would be free and fair to all members seeking to become the APC governorship flagbearer for the 2027 election in the state.
He said “And by God’s grace, we have met the chairman and the whole of our family. And I can tell you it was a warm reception, beyond my expectation. You saw me smiling when I came out of the office for us to take this group photograph.
“They have given us assurance that everything that needs to be put in place to make us comfortable in the forthcoming primary will be madeavailable. We are glad that this came from the party chairman”.
Meanwhile, Ajose disclosed that whatever the outcome of the process is would be accepted by him.
He said: “And what we say is that eventually whatever the party decides, the party is supreme and we all abide by it. But so far we are all preparing for the election and by God’s grace, it will become glorious”.
However, he reiterated that the SMA movement, irrespective of the gubernatorial outcome, would ensure that President Bola Tinubu gets 3.5 million votes during the exercise next year.
“And come 2027, we are not going to have anything less than 3.5 million for Mr. President. And it will be done by God’s grace”.
