Lagos 2019: PDP speaks on choosing between Ambode, Otedola to rival Sanwo-Olu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has said the party will readily welcome Governor Akinwunmi Ambode if he joins.

Speaking to Punch, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Lagos, Taofik Gani, also said they could not confirm if billionaire businessman Femi Otedola, has been given a nomination form to contest.

Gani, however, assured that the party will give all its aspirants a level-playing ground.

“I cannot confirm if Mr. Femi Otedola has joined us or has been given a nomination form to contest. Although, strong leaders behind his team are working towards that; but it is not something that is official yet.

“But the Lagos PDP will be happy to welcome Femi Otedola, who is an established businessman. He will definitely be a political asset for us as we want to win in 2019.

“Also, we are ready to accommodate anybody as long as that person is going to add to our interest and that is me confirming to you that we will readily welcome Governor Ambode if he is sent packing by the APC.

“Any member of the party that is against us having somebody join the party is an enemy of the party. No matter what interest you may have, you will not let that selfish interest override the general interest.

“Hon. Jimi Agbaje came into the party when he was seriously opposed, he was lucky to get the governorship ticket. This is not to say that I’m concluding that we are going to give anybody who comes in now the ticket. We are going to provide a level-playing field for everybody to participate.

“What I can tell you now is that the political structure of the PDP is bigger than what the APC has. The PDP has been at the national level for 16 years; even though APC has been controlling Lagos, we do have our numbers and structures. With the structure we have, if we have somebody like Ambode, it will be a 100 per cent victory,” he said.

This comes as Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor Ambode’s main contender, on Sunday declared his intention to vie for the Lagos State governorship ticket of the APC.

The former Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pension, has already received the backing of the APC powerful Mandate Movement in Lagos, led by a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The chairmen of the 57 councils in the state followed suit by declaring support for Sanwo-Olu.

-Daily Post