A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Sheriff Balogun has thrown his weight behind Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode, saying he is the best option.
Balogun, former Sole Administrator of Sururele Local Government Area, also dismissed the endorsement of Hon. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“It is a free world. Our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said it all. He has not anointed anyone. All the aspirants are his men. They are free to contest in direct primaries. He asked them to exercise their rights. APC faithful will decide whoever is going to be the gubernatorial candidate of the party” he said.
Balogun who spoke on Sunday at a gathering of APC faithful from the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Development Area Councils commended Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other elders of the party for not imposing any individual on the people of Lagos State.
“The people here are for the governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode. We walked from Maryland to Freedom Park. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will win APC gubernatorial primary tomorrow. What happened at the Lagos State APC Secretariat on Saturday and what is happening here can tell Nigerians that Ambode has the support of APC members” Balogun said at Freedom Park.
He advised APC members to be steadfast.
“The people here are APC faithful. They want to vote Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday. They should also stand their ground. No one should be intimidated. The members should be free to vote whoever they want on Monday” he said.
Balogun who rejected the gospel of endorsement, urged APC leaders to support Ambode.
“We appreciate and respect our leaders. What is on ground now is democracy at play. They led us to this point. They said we should come out and express our rights. At the end of the exercise, whoever is victorious should be appreciated. We should rally round the person”.
Pledging commitment to a level playing ground, free and fair contest, Balogun described APC members as the major power brokers.
“Everyone is entitled to his opinion. The members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are APC members. They have the right to do what they want. However, the members of the party have the right to say this is what they want. It is the primaries that would decide who holds all the aces.
Balogun said Ambode was confident of victory.
“We are sure of victory” he added.
