2023: PDP‘s rejected ‘Greek gift’ to Sanwo-Olu leaves Lagos APC in dilemma

Lagos Chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has found itself in a dilemma over the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu situation in the face of an alleged offer of a re-election platform presented by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It was widely reported that the PDP had offered the embattled Governor Sanwo-Olu a platform to actualise his second term bid following wrangling among sections of the Lagos APC over the choice of the Epe-born politician.

The PDP offer followed speculation by the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), a caucus within the ruling party in the state, of effectively denying Sanwo-Olu his second term bid.

Many in the APC are allegedly open to finding another candidate for the 2023 governorship election cutting the incumbent’s ‘political baggages’ which they claimed may mar the party’s chances at retaining power in the state.

This section of the party faithful also cited the recent defection from the party of Dr. Abdul-azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, as a major reason for APC to field a strong candidate, on the assumption that the latter will clinch the ticket of the PDP and represent the party at next year’s poll.

It would be recalled that Jandor, last December, moved his faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos to the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC faction, known as the Lagos4Lagos Movement under its leadership of Lead Visioner, Jandor had been engaged in a running battle with the APC main structure in the state.

The group conducted parallel congresses during the ward, local government and state congresses of the APC recently.

However, the congresses conducted by the Jandor-led group were not recognised as the national secretariat of the party ratified the congresses held by the APC faction loyal to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Jandor, who has indicated interest in contesting the 2023 governorship election in the state, led his members from the 20 local government areas of the state to the PDP, early December, last year

The fix the APC has found itself in has been complicated with the recent offer by the PDP to Sanwo-Olu.

Political observers posit that the APC may in a bid to avoid the same circumstances which led to the defection of Jandor to the PDP, from re-occurring, reluctantly adopt Sanwo-Olu as its flagbearer ahead the 2023 poll, and ultimately risk losing the election with the incumbent state governor.

Although, the offer to Sanwo-Olu was rejected, Friday, political observers say the final word may not have been heard on the matter, considering that the rejection was not done by the governor himself, but by the state chapter of the APC.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement through, the APC’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Seye Oladejo, Friday, described the offer as ‘laughable.’

“Our attention has been drawn to the offer of the opposition PDP’s gubernatorial ticket to the governor of Lagos State in the next national elections.

“While the thought of desperately offering its worthless electoral tickets to every passerby is laughable, the extent of the level of degradation, degeneration and comatose state of Lagos state PDP shouldn’t be lost on all and sundry.

“The platform that initially elected Governor Sanwoolu, having acknowledged his glowing performance across various sectors in his first term, is certainly still available to re-contest for another term.

“His deft handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the successful execution of the all encompassing THEMES agenda has endeared him to Lagosians as a compassionate, committed and the right leader for a time like this.

“He has, without doubt, redirected our state to the path of progress and restored our pride of place as the leading light in the federation.

“As the ruling party, we want to admonish the state governor to remain focused and undistracted from the onerous task of finishing strongly and fulfilling his part of the social contract with the good people of Lagos State.

“We wish to warn the opposition PDP to desist from its age-long tactics of perennial attempts to destabilize the ruling party by the deliberate promotion of falsehood, blackmail and arms – twisting strategies for political advantage.

“While we sympathize with Lagos State PDP over its several years of political misfortunes and misadventures, good wisdom dictates that it put its house in order to have a semblance of relevance.

“It’s pitiable that PDP could only think of fishing in the pool of capable talents in the APC while looking for people to offer its worthless Electoral tickets.

“This underscores the lack of attraction in the PDP and an admittance of its usual Waterloo in the forthcoming elections,” the statement read.

However, experts in the politics of Lagos say the PDP may actually be plotting to herd the APC into making a hasty decision on fielding Sanwo-Olu, or letting him defect to its fold.

According to them, every which way plays into PDP’s hands; if they field him, they lose, if they lose him to another party, PDP will gather other aggrieved APC chieftains under one candidate, and win.

This school of opinion maintains that Sanwo-Olu may not be like ex-governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who after being sidelined and denied re-election ticket in 2019, remained loyal to the party.

“Clearly, Sanwo-Olu is not their favourite candidate, going by the many happenings in the state involving the embattled governor. Many in the party don’t see him a winning candidate, and that beside other reasons . But then again, Jandor has left, (former state governor) Akinwunmi Ambode might leave too if he feels marginalized. These are not good omens for the parry heading into 2023.

“So they are mindful of these trends and now forced to appease Sanwo-Olu whichever way he wants. This is where PDP benefits. And they are herding APC Lagos into a corner with that offer. As it is Sanwo-Olu has become the beautiful bride. No thanks to the PDP in Lagos,” said Joseph Avoseh of the Lagos State University, Ojo.

APC, many believe is in a dilemma all due to its making. In a bid to call Ambode’s bluff in 2019, they secured the cooperation of Sanwo-Olu, and now the Epe Constituency in Lagos will feel hard done by if their sons ‘are used and dumped,’ as put by Akintunde Anjorin, a political analyst.

As it is now, mass defection within the Lagos APC is expected to greet any move by the party to field or retain Sanwo-Olu as candidate for next election coming from those who have continued to oppose his candidacy.

If the party fails to field the governor to actualise his second term ambition, then it is believed by political observers that the incumbent Lagos governor may not take things lying down, as he believes he has paid his dues in the party to earn the right to seek re-election.

The PDP, meanwhile, continues to lay siege to the camp of the ruling party in Lagos.