IN the run-up to the March 18 Governorship elections in Lagos State, the APC must analyse its February 25 failures, and fix the cracks within its ranks, if it wants to emerge victorious against the fast-rising popularity of the Labour Party and its candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
This time, Wale Oluwo, a close associate of former Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has blamed the APC in Alimosho for the failure of the party's Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to win the majority votes in the state on February 25, 2023.
Speaking in an interview with Yoruba Tooto TV, Oluwo claimed that Tinubu's loss was not due to tribalism, but rather because the All Progressives Congress (APC) party lost in areas where they had previously won.
He emphasized that the Igbos had little influence in Alimosho, yet Tinubu lost to Peter Obi in those regions.
This is not the first time someone would attribute APC's loss to a non-Igbo factor.
Recall that last week, Gbenga Omotoso said the APC would not lose in Alimosho again, as the differences in the party that accounted for their loss have been treated.
Also, at an APC stakeholders meeting, the SSA on SDGs to the President, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire pleaded with aggrieved members of the party to sheath their swords and support the re-election bid of Sanwo-Olu, adding that their complaints will be attended to.
Speaking more on the APC's loss in Alimosho, Wale Olumo, who left the APC for the Boot Party to contest for Governor, but later stepped down for Rhodes-Vivour, suggested that the APC should analyze what caused their loss and not rely on religious sentiment.
Oluwo went on to explain that although the Igbos make up a significant portion of Amuwo Odofin, Ojo, and Ajegunle, the Yorubas still dominate those regions.
Additionally, he mentioned that in Kosofe and Alimosho, Yorubas held a 3.5 to 1 supremacy ratio, but the APC still lost those areas. In Ikeja also, Yoruba speakers have traditionally been the majority, yet the APC lost there as well.
Oluwo concluded by stating that these areas were traditionally strongholds for the APC and had not been lost since 1999. He asserted that the party should rethink its strategy and not rely on tribal affiliations to win elections.
