Is Ambode now regarded as a pariah within APC?

Pulse could not independently verify if the claims from some of these chieftains were correct. Chief Press Secretary to Gov Ambode, Abib Haruna and Commissioner for Information in Lagos, Kehinde Bamgbetan, weren't immediately available for comments. Calls placed to their mobile returned unanswered.

A phone call from the church

When General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, rang Tinubu to intercede for Ambode, Tinubu told him there was nothing he could do at this point because the matter was now beyond him.

“Sir, people have been accusing me of imposition. They say I imposed candidates at will”, Tinubu reportedly told Adeboye in excerpts of the phone conversation made available to Pulse from Bourdillon—Tinubu’s famous home address. “That is why I said all aspirants including the governor should get to the field and test their popularity among the people in an open contest of direct primaries.

“Sir, my hands are tied on this matter. I cannot ask those who have picked expression of interest and nomination forms to withdraw or not contest. That will be greatly unfair. We will ensure a level playing field for all aspirants including the incumbent governor”, Tinubu reportedly told the preacher.

A rift denied

Ambode had earlier said there was no rift between Tinubu and himself.

“I want you to know that there is no fight anywhere. The National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and my good self, we are not in any fight, we are not in any controversy.

  

“We are praying to God that the best is yet to come and the best will be what Lagos State deserves and I want you to just continue with your prayers that at this time, God will show His hand and make sure that everything that is of blessing to Lagos State will come to pass”, Ambode said.

Sanwoolu formally declared for the Lagos governorship seat on Sunday, September 16, 2018; while promising to fix mounting filth, perennial traffic gridlock and chaos in Nigeria’s commercial capital.