Why We Denied Ambode’s Second Term Bid – Lagos APC Chairman

Tunde Balogun, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, has disclosed the reason why the immediate past governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, was not given a second term ticket by the party.

After his failure to retain the seat for a second term, Ambode appeared the only governor who did not serve eight years in office since the return of the country to democratic rule in 1999.

His two predecessors, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), both served two terms of eight years each.

The former governor, who lost the ticket to a preferable candidate of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is believed to have done phenomenally well, especially in the area of infrastructural development in the state.

But Balogun, while speaking with the media recently, said Lagosians had a contrary opinion, saying Ambode derailed from the party’s plan for the state.

“The APC as a party started from Alliance for Democracy.
“From AD, when Asiwaju Tinubu was the governor, we had a 10-point agenda for the development of the state.

“These areas touch on transportation, health, education, security, and others.

“When he (Tinubu) was there, he did a lot in the area of transportation, health, and the environment before he left office after eight years.

“Babatunde Fashola took over and followed the same programme to the letter and you found development all over the place.
“When Fashola sought re-election, he won with a very large margin because of his performance.

“When Ambode took over, at the beginning he was adhering to the programme of the party but after some time, he deviated.

“That singular mistake cost him his second term,” Balogun stated.