Shock pervaded the camp of Lagos Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, on Saturday as she announced her withdrawal from the senatorial race in the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Orelope-Adefulire, whose posters had for weeks flooded many parts of Lagos West, made the withdrawal announcement in a press statement issued by her Media Assistant, Mr Tunde Abatan.
In the statement, Orelope-Adefulire cited the overall interest of the party and the need to strengthen its unity as reasons for her withdrawal.
“This is of course a very difficult decision for me to make, but one that I made in the overall interest of my party and for the benefit of our growing internal democracy,” Orelope-Adefulire said.
“I wish to thank the party, our apex leaders and our loyal, dedicated members in the state particularly members of Lagos West Senatorial District.
“I wish to thank them particularly on the support shown through their wise counsels, best wishes and words of encouragement during visits on political mission.”
The Deputy Governor, however, pledged her unaltered support and cooperation to any aspirant that eventually emerged as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming primaries scheduled for Monday 8th December.
“In spite of my withdrawal from the
senatorial race, my commitment to Lagosians and the development of Lagos remains sacrosanct,” she said.
“I promise to use the rest of my tenure as your deputy governor to continue to assist the Governor in providing good governance and continue to project our party and ensure its success at the forthcoming 2015 elections.”
She described the withdrawal as a very difficult decision for her to make, but one that was made in the overall interest of APC and for the benefit of the party’s growing internal democracy.
“I wish to thank the party, our apex leaders and our loyal, dedicated members in the state particularly members of Lagos West Senatorial District,” Orelope-Adefulire said.
“I wish to thank them particularly on the support shown through their wise counsels, best wishes and words of encouragement during visits on political mission.
“In spite of my withdrawal from the senatorial race, my commitment to Lagosians and the development of Lagos remains sacrosanct.
“I promise to use the rest of my tenure as your Deputy Governor to continue to assist the Governor in providing good governance and continue to project our party and ensure its success at the forthcoming 2015 elections.”
Huhuonline.com however learnt from her camp that she was forced by the party hierarchy to withdraw from the race for some other aspirants.
According to the sources, the party is considering the position as either to compensate one of the governorship aspirants on the party platform who lost at the primaries, or to allow Hon. Adeola Olamilekan, the House of Representatives chairman of the Committee on Public Account.
Party members who spoke on the issue told our correspondent that the party thinks Olamilekan had done well as a member of the House and that such successful politician should be considered for a higher office.
The legislator had formerly declared his interest to run for the Senate in Ogun State. He already started his campaign and his posters had been displayed all over the Ota area of the state before, it was learnt, some party members kicked against him saying he could not just leave Lagos to Ogun to overshadow those that had laboured for the party.
“This was why he moved back to Lagos, but the party feels he did make us proud while at the House of Representatives. But this consideration for him was before the governorship primaries of our party,” the source said.
The new calculation is that “all things being equal, one of the defeated governorship aspirants would be given the slot,” the source said, adding that he was yet to know who exactly.
He said in asking Orelope-Adefulire to step down, the party considered that the woman was not going to lose as she is entitled to pension, allowances and other benefits as a former Deputy-Governor by the time she leaves office.
