Defection hits Lagos APC as Ambode, Salvador plan to leave for LP

There are strong indications that former Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is also a former state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Moshood Salvador, may announce their defection to the Labour Party (LP) before July 15.

Sources within the Labour Party in the state, confided in our Correspondent that the political groups of the two APC chieftains, Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organisation (AAMCO) and The Conscience Group (TCG) led by Salvador would soon officially announce their defection to their party.

The sources informed that the duo had finalised their intention with the nafional leadership of LP, saying Ambode and Salvador were interested in becoming the governorship candidate of the party in 2023.

“Hon Salvador was at the national headquarters of our party to officially notify our leaders of his interest in joining us to rescue Lagos from the grip of APC and Tinubu. We were among the delegation that went to Abuja to meet the chairman.

“Salvador said some party members approached him to come and lead the party in the state. He is welcomed into the party but some of us are opposed to him becoming our governorship candidate.

“We believed that he can’t work against Bola Tinubu’s structure in Lagos and we have also notified the national chairman about this development. We have encouraged him to via for a senatorial seat,”, one of the sources said.

The LP leaders also disclosed that Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources under Governor Ambode, Mr Wale Oluwo would be leading the Ambode group from the APC to the LP, adding that talks on their defection have been concluded with the state chapter of the party.

“Mr Wale Oluwo will be leading the AAMCO group to join our party. The talk is on in Lagos LP and also done. Any moment from now, their defection would be announced officially. Currently, LP party is the beautiful bride of Nigerian politics and so many want to work with us including those who lost out at primaries held in both APC and PDP in Lagos”, one LP leader said.

When WesternPost contacted Salvador on phone, he said: “I don’t response to such issue on phone. I don’t react to issue on phone. Thank you.”

Reacting to the planned defection, Oluwo went contacted, said he was unaware of any defection of his group members, including his former principal.

But Lagos State Chairman of LP, Prof. Fagbemi Awamaridi, told WesternPost that the Ambode group is currently discussing with the party, adding that the group and LP want to form alliance against the ruling APC ahead of the 2023 governorship election in the state.

Awamaridi who claimed to be the governorship candidate of the party, said the Ambode group saw the outing of the party in 2019 and so felt it is time for them to forge alliance to wrestle power from the APC.

He disclosed that it was not only the Ambode group that had been discussing with the LP, adding that Action Alliance, a faction of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the APC are in discussion with him being the governorship candidate.