Chairman, Strategy and Mobilization, Social Democratic Party (SDP), South-West Zone, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, on Friday said that the party would accommodate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State in 2019 election.
Pearse, a University teacher, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Ambode would be welcome to fly SDP’s ticket if his (Ambode) party, All Progressives Congress (APC) denied him second term ticket.
Ambode’s second term ticket has been facing some opposition within his party following speculations that he has fallen out of favour with his political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu is said to be currently rooting for a former commissioner in the state, Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu, who has already declared his intention to contest the governorship on the platform of the APC party, where Ambode also belongs.
Analysts view the development as a trying political season for Ambode, who has since announced his readiness for the party’s direct primary on Sept. 30 to slug it out with his opponents.
Sanwo-Olu, the Managing Director, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, and Femi Hamzat, a former Commissioner for Works, are in the race for the APC’s governorship ticket.
Pearse said: “I have to tell you the truth that our national leaders have asked us in Lagos to reach out to Ambode and to let him know that we will be ready to accommodate him in our party if he so chooses.
“The reason being that Ambode has not performed excellently but we think, he should have an opportunity for the second term to complete some of the works he has started.
“More importantly, we see Ambode as a man who seems to be standing up to greed. That’s the reason why we feel Ambode should be given an opportunity.
“They are fighting him because he has not agreed to sell Lagos totally. So, we will welcome him if he comes.”
The SDP’s chieftain, however, said that whether Ambode came or not, the 2019 general elections were going to be the end of the ruling APC in Lagos.
NAN
