The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode, has said that the party has made remarkable achievements that qualified it to rule Lagos again.
Ambode who spoke on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Henry Ajomale-led executive council of the APC at the party secretariat in Ikeja, said the party had demonstrated openness and internal democracy that was worthy of emulation by other political parties in Nigeria.
“It is a clear message that not only can other parties learn from us, but that the APC deserves to retain our dear state Lagos and take over the federal structure in 2015.
“No one can be in doubt any longer that as our members converge on Lagos today for our national convention, the same spirit of openness, fairness and camaraderie will prevail in choosing our presidential candidate.”
Ambode commended Ajomale for the success of the primaries, noting that the exercise was done creditably in the state.
“I congratulate and express my gratitude to the leadership of our party in Lagos for the successes recorded so far in the primary conducted by the party in Lagos State.
“The rancour-free, open and transparent manner in which the primaries to the State House of Assembly, National Assembly and for the governorship slots were conducted, in the full glare of the media and various observers, made the All progressives Party to be a party worthy of emulation.
“Unlike elsewhere where parallel elections are being held by different factions; where the aspirants are constrained to wear bullet-proof vests and casualties being recorded, the APC primaries under your watch have recorded no violence whatsoever.
“Not a single candidate has threatened to leave the party on account of the conduct of the primaries. Instead, aspirants are congratulating winners with a promise to ensure victory for the party at the February 2015 elections.
“APC in Lagos State has demonstrated strength, popularity and acceptability as the preferred choice of the people. We have done this through the huge number of delegates that voted at our primary last Thursday. Our competitor could only muster a fraction of our delegates, even at that, their figures could barely add up.
“In line with its progressive orientation, our party has shown to the world its sterling qualities; that ours is a unified, non-acrimonious, and accountable party.
“We have also shown that internal democracy can thrive and be well communicated to the whole nation. This is what your leadership has achieved. This is what has been clearly communicated and which is being applauded even by critics,” Ambode said.
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