Tinubu warns APC ward chairmen in Lagos that they face the sack if Sanwoolu does not win

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has threatened to sack all party chairman in wards across Lagos State if they fail to deliver victory for his gubernatorial candidate Babajide Sanwoolu on March 9.

Next Saturday, Nigerians go to the polls to elect governors in 30 of the country's 36 states and members of the states houses of assembly. In Lagos State, the APC is fielding Mr Sanwoolu, Asiwaju Tinubu's handpicked candidate, who is facing a stiff challenge from Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Babatunde Gbadamosi of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

After last weekend's presidential and National Assembly elections in which several big names lost in what were considered their strongholds, Asiwaju Tinubu appears weary of similar upsets. Speaking to stakeholders after a closed-door meeting with members of the Governor’s Advisory Council in Ikeja yesterday, Asiwaju Tinubu lambasted party chiefs for failing to deliver maximally as expected during the presidential and National Assembly polls.

He added: “Please, don’t praise me, I don’t need your praises after the poor performance you all put up at the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. It showed that most of the chieftains and council chairmen did not mobilise the grassroots after all the support from the party.

“I will not condone this act any further. Party leaders and council chairmen who fail to perform to expectation at the next governorship and House of Assembly polls on March 9, should be ready to resign or face the music.

“We have over 3m registered APC members, yet the performance last Saturday was poor. The chairman of the state party Babatunde Balogun, should know that his position is not a permanent one and if he fails, he will have to go too.”

Among those who were in attendance at the meeting include Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Dr Yomi Finnih, Babajide Sanwoolu and his running-mate Dr Femi Hamzat, Mr Tunde Balogun and executive committee members. Lagos State has been governed by the APC since 1999 but with last weekend's polls showing several upsets nationwide, the party cannot take victory for granted.

Among other things, there appears to be a backlash against those like Asiwaju Tinubu seen as godfathers who go around imposing candidates on constituencies. As a result, senate president Senator Bukola Saraki lost his seat in Kwara Central Senatorial District.