Following the withdrawal of Dr Obafemi Hamzat, thirty-six of the 40 Lagos house of assembly members have endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the governorship ticket of the state.
The lawmakers have thrown their weight behind Sanwo-Olu ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary fixed for Sunday.
Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, chairman of the house committee on information, strategy and security, said the decision was an outcome of a meeting which the lawmakers held on Saturday.
He said the meeting was chaired by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, with the lawmakers signing the statement to affirm their endorsement.
Signatories to the endorsement
Signatories to the endorsement (II)
“The lawmakers stated that they were in agreement with the leadership of the party and the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) which had earlier endorsed Sanwo-olu for the governorship ticket,” the statement read.
The endorsement comes same day Dr Obafemi Hamzat, one of the major contenders for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Lagos stepped down for Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hamzat’s withdrawal leaves Sanwo-Olu and the incumbent governor, Akinwumi Ambode as the only contenders for the party’s ticket in its primaries scheduled for Sunday, September 30.
Addressing newsmen in company of Sanwo-Olu and some supporters in Lagos, Hamzat urged his supporters to vote for sanwo-Olu in the party’s primaries.
Explaining his reasons for stepping down, Hamzat said that it was borne out of the greater good for Lagos than the benefit of an individual.
“After due consultation with my numerous supporters and in deference to the wise counsel of those I consider my political mentors, I resolved to step down from the governorship race.
“Apart from the fact that I can vouch for his personal integrity, great humility and extraordinary intelligence, Sanwo-Olu is someone I have had close interaction with in the past.
We have worked closely with Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was then the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Lagos State.
“Haven been part and parcel of the formulation and execution of various policies and programmes that transformed Lagos right from former governors Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola’s administrations, I strongly believe that Sanwo-Olu is equally rooted to fly our party’s flag in the 2019 elections.
“I have no doubt that he is well placed and equipped to take Lagos to greater height, hence my stepping down for him.
He commended members of the party for their loyalty, pointing out that the party‘s progress and winning elections in Lagos was because of their commitment.
