Mailafia emerges ADC presidential candidate

Ashafa accepts party’s decision, defeat at senatorial primary

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced Dr. Obadiah Mailafia as its presidential candidate for the 2019 election.In a statement yesterday, the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Yemi Kolapo, said the Chief Returning Officer, Alhaji Said Baba Abdullahi, made the announcement after the party’s convention in Abuja on Sunday.

The standard bearer polled 2,860 votes against Mrs. Saidat Odofin, who scored 1,310 votes. Mailafia commended Odofin for her resilience and passion for desiring a change in Nigeria, which he said, was her driving force.Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Lagos East, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has formally relinquished his ‘unopposed ticket’ to the leadership of the Lagos State Chapter of the APC following the outcome of the senatorial primaries conducted in the state last week.

The incumbent lawmaker, who contested the senatorial ticket for the third term but was defeated by Mr. Bayo Osinowo, who represents Kosofe Constituency I in the State House of Assembly, with 247,743 votes, resigned to fate as he bowed to party’s supremacy.In a statement yesterday by Senator Gbenga Ashafa Independent Campaign Organisation, the lawmaker said the events of the past few weeks in the build up to the senatorial primaries in Lagos East have led to quite a level of apprehension within the district and in light of that, I hereby release my unopposed ticket to the leadership of the party in Lagos State.
 
According to him, “In the light of the foregoing, and upon due consultation with party leaders and relevant stakeholders, I believe that the time has come for me to sacrifice my ambition for the unity and continuity of our party at the senatorial level and across all elective offices.“To this end, I would like to appreciate the leadership of our party at the state and national levels, our members and constituents alike for the opportunity afforded me to serve. This is an opportunity that I do not take lightly or for granted. I would also like to appreciate the magnanimity and generosity of the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, towards me throughout this journey.”
 
He, however, urged his followers and supporters across the district to support all the candidates of the party in the state and across the country in the forthcoming elections in 2019.