Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Otunmba Henry Ajomale has disowned members of the New Lagos Movement, noting that they are not members of the party.
You Are Fake APC Members, Ajomale Tells New Lagos Movement
Ajomale who was reacting to the protest, March for Internal Democracy led by Mr. Niyi Akinsiju said he does not know members of the group.
“I don’t know them. No, they are not members of the party. And if they said that they are New Lagos Movement, they are on their own. Please ask them if they are registered members of the party. According to the party constitution, we don’t allow any group within the party.
“ If anyone has any grievances against the party, our secretariat is open daily. They can make their complain known. No party member will go to the public and protest against what the party is yet to decide”, he said, adding that the party is yet to ask anyone to indicate intention for governorship of Lagos State.
“At the moment, more than 10 people are going around but none of them has come to me that they want to contest election. Everyone should wait until the National leadership of the party decides. There cannot be any imposition because we follow the directive of the party leadership.If anyone endorses any candidate, it doesn’t mean that the candidate will win at the primaries’, he explained.
Ajomale said APC is yet to make arrangement for who will be the next governor in Lagos.
“ Like any other state, we have to adhere to the guide lines issued by the party national secretariat. I am not aware that there is any directive from the national secretariat of the party on how the gubernatorial candidate of the party should emerge in the state.
“Maybe they heard rumours which does not represent the position of the party. We have our own machinery in selecting the candidate of the party. Individual opinion doesn’t have impact on the decision of the party. When the time comes, we will decide democratically who will be the party candidate in the next election. We cannot afford to do anything less.We must be very careful in who carries the flag of the party. Individual interest is not accepted but overall interest of the party is considered paramount in the selection of the party flag bearers”, he said and called on all interested parties to continue to campaign and solicit for support but when the time comes, the party will make its own decision.
On internal democracy, he said the party is yet to adopt any position on zoning.” We don’t usually zone. We look for the best to represent the party in the election. As a human being, the first governor is from the West Senatorial District, the second came from the Central Senatorial District and as human being, we will all believe that the third senatorial district-East, should produce the next governor.
If we cannot get the right candidate from that area, we will look at other districts in the state for the candidate. We cannot take chances on our candidates”, he said.