L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; his predecessor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule; APC Lagos Caretaker Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Prince Rabiu Adio Oluwa; Otunba Busura Alebiosu and other members during the Governor’s Advisory Council media briefing at Lagos House, Marina, on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (NAN)

By Florence Onuegbu

The Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), says the party will adopt a consensus arrangement for its ward executives.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the GAC members after the council meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, on Wednesday, Prince Tajudeen Olusi said that the ward congress was scheduled for Saturday, July 31, to elect ward executives.

The GAC, the highest decision making body of Lagos State APC, comprised prominent leaders of the party across the state.

Olusi said that party officers at all levels had been directed to engage in dialogue that would lead to meaningful reconciliation of those in disagreements.

This is to accommodate members who are willing to serve the party.

He said that the GAC had directed all leaders and party officers to dialogue in the spirit of brotherhood to decide those who were going to lead the party after congresses.

“We deliberated on the incoming state congresses of our party and later the national convention.

“We have resolved and directed officers of our party at all levels to engage in dialogue that would lead to meaningful reconciliation of aggrieved members within the party.

“This is in order to ensure that all opinions are accommodated and all members who are willing to serve the party are given positions in the various executive bodies at ward, local and state levels.

“This, we have done and we are sure all officers of our party will follow the consensus decision that we have taken, so as to ensure that all willing members of the party who want to serve are considered.

“We have also directed that they should hold stakeholder meetings at all local government levels.

“This is where leaders and officers will sit down, talk together in the spirit of brotherhood and decide who will lead the party after the congresses,” Olusi said.

GAC also appreciated the people of Lagos for reposing confidence in the APC at the last local government elections.

Also speaking, Lagos APC Chairman of Caretaker Committee, Mr Tunde Balogun said the party ward executives would emerge through consensus on Saturday.

Balogun said that APC would hold stakeholders meetings in all the local governments in the state on Thursday.

“Next Saturday, we are having a ward congress which will lead to the formation of our party officials. We are having our stakeholders meeting tomorrow (Thursday) and there, we will decide on what to do.

“The stakeholders’ meeting is taking place in all the 20 local governments in Lagos State; all local governments will hold the meeting.

“We are engaging a lot of stakeholders and we are going to do the ward congress on consensus.

“Consensus arrangement has been adopted by the party.

“We will be doing that for Lagos State. We have decided to adopt the consensus arrangements, which is constitutional. It is part of the provision of our party,” he said.

Commenting on the outcome of last Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos State, Balogun said that APC won the election landslide with about 584,000 votes across the state.

He said that the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), scored about 81,000 votes.

“We had a peaceful, free, fair and credible election, which was conducted very well by Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

“We have to be thankful to the residents and voters in Lagos State, who had shown so much confidence and trust in APC. We will continue to deliver the dividend of democracy,” the chairman said.

The GAC meeting was attended by Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; former Deputy Governors, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye and Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule;

Also in attendance were Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa; former Secretary to Lagos State Government, Otunba Olorunfunmi Bashorun; Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Prince Olusi and Balogun, among others.