Crisis brews in Lagos APC over Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s commissioner-nominees as LSHA steps down screening

A smouldering resentment and rancour has pervaded the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State over the 25 commissioner-nominees of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu transmitted to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation about two weeks ago.

Aggrieved senior party members have rejected the list as it did not reflect the “interest and wishes’’ of the party at local government and ward levels.

They described the list as a “betrayal of trust, abuse of the cult followership and commitment’’ of Lagosians to the party.

As a result of the crisis, it was learnt that the State House of Assembly is bowing to pressure from aggrieved party men and women not to screen the nominees believed to have been “cooked from a smoke-filled room’’ outside the government.

The House is awaiting the “additional list’’ promised by the party leadership before the commencement of screening.

“A party source said:“Those who did not work for the party’s success at the polls and are unknown to the leaders at local government and ward levels are the ones nominated.

“Where were they when we were campaigning and building the party at the grassroots?

“Those who have sacrificed and paid N3million to get the party’s nomination forms and were denied the tickets and those who were asked to step down after a term are not considered.

“It is unfair to these people, it is unfair to Lagosians. How many Lagosians are on the list? About 30 per cent.’’

He pointed out that unlike President Buhari who nominated mostly politicians as ministers, he accused Sanwo-Olu or the party of appointing non-politicians and “strangers’’ who have no electoral value.

“There is no single politician on the list. The G-14 of the state is a toothless bulldog. Party members are not happy as they felt used, dumped and abandoned to their fate.’’

A Lagos socio-political group also slammed APC and Governor Sanwoolu on names of commissioners and special advisers transmitted to the House.

“If youths and women are good for campaigns and elections, why are they not good to be involved in governance?

“Monkey they work baboons dey chop and this is a big slap on us in Lagos State.

“Unfortunately even the most respected BOSCO ICG (Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Campaign Organisation (BOSCO ICG) has nobody on the list despite all the efforts of the whole directorates,’’ the Coordinator (name withheld), said.

Contacted on phone for his comment, the State Chairman, Mr Tunde Balogun and his vice, Mr Sunny Ajose, a former Head of Service in the state, did not pick their calls.