March 26, 2018

Ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial election, the women Wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to seek a second term in office.

They made the call and declared their support at the Lagos Women Mega Rally held in Lagos.

Mrs Kemi Nelson, APC Zonal Women Leader, South West-Nigeria and Chief Convener of the event, said the rally was to evaluate Gov. Ambode’s agenda for development in the state since May 2015.

Nelson commended the governor’s total dedication to duty, his enormous development projects and his desire to make the state a better place to live.

She also said that women had benefitted from the programmes and policies of the Gov. Ambode-led administration.

”Gov. Ambode has been doing well for us in all spheres of life by giving us a voice in government.

”On the domestic front, he has been supportive, and on the economic front, he has through his economic policies, enlarged the economy of the state.

”Gov. Ambode has also engaged more women in the highest policy organ of the state government.

”This is why we are gathered here to take a stand on behalf of our mothers, sisters and daughters as we approach another election year and to declare our support for his re-election, so that he can continue to make our state an enviable state,” she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals, urged the party leaders to allocate more slots for women to occupy political positions.

”Our men in political positions have been outstanding, they stand very tall among men of extra giant strides.

”But we beg for more slots, appointment and positions for our women, because they have a lot to contribute to the development of the society, ” she said.

Receiving their endorsement letter on behalf of Ambode, the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, thanked the women for supporting the Gov. Ambode led-administration.

She promised that the state government would continue to give women their pride of place by providing the enabling environment for all to succeed.

Adebule also urged residents to be part of the Continuous Voter Registration being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), saying that it is the only means of participating in the 2019 elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the endorsement by the women is coming on the heels of that of the Senators representing Lagos State in the National Assembly, who visited the governor on Sunday to pass a vote of confidence on him and endorse him for a second term.

The trio —- Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos West; Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central; and Sen.Solomon Adeola, representing Lagos West — said they were impressed with his performance and urged him on.

NAN reports that the 2019 general elections are scheduled to begin in 11 months time, having been fixed for Feb. 16, 2019 and March 2, 2019.