A day after Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State formalised his bid for a second term, reports have emerged that there is a threat he might be impeached.

Ambode had on Monday stormed the headquarters of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja to get the expression of interest and nomination forms for his 2019 bid. However, watchers in the state believe there is an ongoing rift between the governor and APC’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Quoting credible sources, online news outlet, TheCable, on Tuesday claimed 57 council chairmen, who are fiercely loyal to Tinubu, have met and pledged their support to his preferred candidate, Jide Sanwonolu.

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Ambode now faces the task of beating Sanwonolu and another APC stalwart, Obafemi Hamzat, in the primary. According to TheCable council chairmen are the most influential grassroots mobilisers under the direct primary system adopted by APC to pick governorship candidates.

Most members of the Lagos house of assembly are also loyal to Tinubu.

“Meeting is over. Ambode is out. Jide Sanwonolu is the new governor of Lagos. All 57 local government chairmen have signed his form. It’s over,” it said.

The online paper further quoted, an ally of Tinubu known, James Odunmbaku, as saying “Sanwololu is the incoming governor of Lagos.”

Sanwonolu, who has been suggested has Tinubu’s joker, served as a commissioner under Babatunde Fashola. He is the current managing director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation.

The paper wrote,

Sanwonolu, who served as a commissioner under Babatunde Fashola, Ambode’s predecessor, is currently the managing director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC).

He is being backed by Mandate Movement, a group fiercely loyal to Tinubu.

At a meeting held after Sanwonolu picked up his nomination form, James Odunmbaku, an ally of Tinubu known as “Baba Eto” in the political circle, said “Sanwololu is the incoming governor of Lagos.”

Sanwonolu surrounded by members of Mandate Movement

There have been reports of a rift between Tinubu and Ambode. When the APC leader canvassed for direct primary in Lagos, rumors were rife that Ambode was one of the targets but both men have carried on as if all is well.

Hamzat, a former commissioner in the state, is also eyeing Ambode’s seat, having failed to secure the party’s ticket in 2015.

Heavyweights of the ruling party had rallied round Ambode who defeated Hamzat and Olasupo Sasore, the choice of Fashola, to clinch the ticket of APC in 2015.

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Asked to comment on the latest development in the state, Joe Igbokwe, publicity secretary of Lagos APC, told TheCable: “Do you know that Ambode picked his nomination form yesterday? That puts to rest the speculations you’ve been hearing for years. Ambode is the man. Take it.”

Tunde Rahman, spokesman of Tinubu, promised to get back to TheCable when he was contacted but had not done so as of the time this report was filed.

Abib Haruna, chief press secretary to Ambode, was not available for comments, his telephone line was out of reach.

The latest development is coming at a time when an APC faction led by Fouad Oki is plotting to stop the primaries for the 2019 elections which are to commence across the country on Wednesday.