Atiku lobbies Lagos lawmakers

Holds secret meetings with legislators
Former Vice President and one of the presidential aspirants of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly at the weekend and held a closed door meeting with the lawmakers.
Though the motive of meeting was sketchy, insiders confirmed to the Nigerian Pilot Sunday that the meeting is not unconnected with presidential primary of the party.
According to findings, the Turakin Adamawa was on hand to lobby the lawmakers for support during the presidential primaries of the party.
Atiku flanked by his political aides and security operatives arrived the assembly few minutes after 6:00 pm on Friday and headed straight to the office of the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, where he held a closed door session with the speaker and the legislators.
According to a close source to the Speaker, the former Vice President had scheduled to come last week but failed to do so.
His visit was to facilitate his victory at the Presidential primary of the party.
“He came to see the lawmakers whom he believed would be among the delegates that would participate in the primary,” the insider said.
Atiku is set to contest for APC’s presidential ticket against former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari; Kano State governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha and a publisher, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah as well as new entrant into the presidential race, embattled Speaker of the House of representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Reports had suggested that the aspirants had met in Abuja during the week to agree on the party’s flag bearer for next election so that it does not turn sour. But when asked, Atiku denied, “No, I don’t think so. The issue of withdrawal at this moment is not on the table because as candidates we have not met.
“There are, let us say the five of us. Before you talk of withdrawal, before you talk of consensus, the candidates must meet as a group. And when they meet as a group all of them must submit to a consensus process.”
The assembly complex was equally besieged by Atiku’s loyalist, who crowded the frontage, guarded by fierce looking security team deployed to the complex purposely because of the visit.
He left at about 8:00 pm, flanked by the Speaker to his car.