- By Kamil Opeyemi
Though Tinubu won in 11 local government areas of the state, his votes 572, 606 turned out to be lesser than those of Obi, who won in 9 councils but led with a total of 582,454 votes.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has opened talks with various political groups in Lagos state as part of efforts to ensure the state remains under the control of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Opposition Labour Party created panic among party leaders during the presidential election where its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, defeated the candidate of the APC and now President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It was the first time since 1999 that the party led by former Governor, Tinubu would suffer such defeat. The development, according to findings by the NPO Reports, had given leadership of the party concerns over the fate of the party in the coming state elections.
Though Tinubu won in 11 local government areas of the state, his votes 572, 606 turned out to be lesser than those of Obi, who won in 9 councils but led with a total of 582,454 votes.
https://twitter.com/nporeports/status/1634950243673595907?s=46&t=bC9rXNhOjvr-U1ffFr-F3g https://twitter.com/NpoReports/status/1634950243673595907?s=20 https://twitter.com/nporeports/status/1634950243673595907?s=46&t=bC9rXNhOjvr-U1ffFr-F3gOf major concerns to party leaders is the loss of the election in traditional strongholds of the APC such as Alimosho, Ikeja, Shomolu and others.
The APC lost the election in Alimosho, usually called “the Tinubu Country” given the massive support he had always received from the area. It is said to be the largest local government area in the country with a massive voting strength.
It was reliably gathered that Aregbesola moved into Lagos few days ago to resolve some of the issues involved.
A party chieftain from Alimosho, who spoke on condition of annonimity told the NPO Reports that the loss of Alimosho to the Labour Party was part of the fallout of the internal rifts within the party in Lagos.
It was leant that many grassroots politicians have grown weary of alleged imposition of weak candidates when elections come. “Many of those who played key roles in the past to mobilise voters have been sidelined. On election day, many of them went to their polling units to just vote and returned to their houses. So, no one should be surprised by the results,” said a party chieftain in the area.
He said this was not peculiar to Alimosho but many parts of Lagos causing many party chieftains to be lukewarm towards the performance of the party in the elections.
It was learnt that the return of Aregbesola was on the intervention of some party leaders who are concerned about the re-election of Sanwo-Olu who prevailed on him to set aside the differences between him and his political leader to ensure that Lagos remains under the APC.
“Part of the signs that ought to have been taken to account was when violence erupted during the primaries of the party in Alimosho that led to the killings of some people. That is to tell you that Aregbesola had simply removed his hands since his leadership was no longer recognised by the powers that be. The former Governor of Osun for many years knew how he settled such rivalries and jostle for elective and appointive positions. But it was settled with guns and machett,”
Since he arrived in Lagos, it was learnt, Aregbesola has met different groups seeking to understand the grievances and demanding what could be done to ensure the party’s victory.
A member of the party who attended one of the meetings held at the Minister’s Lagos residence said many of the groups opened up on issues they have with the party and many of the leaders in the state.
It was leant that many of them left promising to work for the party but urged Aregbesola to ensure that the leadership of the party in the state take actions on some of the issues listed.