Thirty-seven anointed candidates loyal to former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were on Saturday elected unopposed as state executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.

Former Commissioner for Rural Development, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, emerged as Lagos State chairman of APC.

Ojelabi and other 36 elected executive members of the Lagos APC were declared winners by the Chief Adebayo Adelabu-led electoral committee through voice voting.

The congress was monitored by the Adelabu-led Electoral Committee members appointed by the party’s National Caretaker Committee.

Ojelabi, a former member of House of Representatives, was elected at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, where card-carrying members of the party converged to elect officers into the party positions at the state level.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led 1,615 delegates across the state to the event held under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Electoral Committee members appointed by the party’s National Caretaker Committee in Abuja.

Adelabu disclosed that 38 aspirants were screened for all 37 vacant positions in the party’s state chapter, noting that two aspirants expressed their interest in the chairmanship position but one person was found ineligible based on the party’s guidelines and was disqualified.

Speaking on the congress and the emergence of the new party executives, Sanwo-Olu described the process as “simply decisive, uncontroversial”, expressing his confidence in the new team that will be steering the party’s affairs in Lagos.

He said Ojelabi possessed a brilliant resume as loyal APC chieftain, noting that the new team would work to deepen the party’s stronghold in the state.

“We have come to the end of the state congress. All party members are happy with the conduct, peaceful conduct of the process and the outcome,” he said.

He said the new chairman had the mandate to reach out to aggrieved party members and bring them back to the fold.

Ojelabi, in his response, pledged to lead the team in consolidating the progress recorded under his predecessor, Hon. Tunde Balogun, and promised to set the party on higher pedestal.

Also elected into the party’s executive are Deputy State Chairman, Hon. Moshood Maiyegun; State Secretary, Hon. Sunmi Odesanya; Assistant State Secretary, Hon. Mariam Animashaun; Publicity Secretary, Hon. Seye Oladejo; Legal Adviser, Barr. Folashade Bakare; Assistant Legal Adviser, Barr. Adebola Adewunmi-Ladigbolu, and State Women Leader, Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas.

The State Vice Chairmen are Hon. Tunde Aboyade (West), Mrs. Oladunjoye (East), and Hon. Daramola (Central).

Others are: State Treasurer, Biodun Aigbe; Assistant State Treasurer, Oludele Sonola; Financial Secretary, Doyin Banjo; Assistant Financial Secretary, Alhaja Funke Olaleye; Organising Secretary, Comrade Ayodele Adewale; Assistant Organising Secretary, Mr. Bayo Sanwo-Olu; Assistant Publicity Secretary, Yesiru Karamo; Welfare Secretary, Kehinde Adeniyi; Assistant Welfare Secretary, Akinola Idowu.

Auditor, Doyin Pikuda; Assistant Auditor, Salisu Elegushi; Assistant Women Leader, Hon. Kehinde Babalola; State Youth Leader, Dr. Muritala Seriki; Assistant Youth Leader, Prince Rasak Omoloja; Special Physically Challenged Leader, Hon. Israel Akiode, and State Youth Organising, Hon. Idris Aregbe.

The Senatorial Youth Leaders are Rasheed Gbose (West), Gbenga Balogun (East), and Sulaiman Animashaun (Central).

The Senatorial Women Leaders are Bola Badmus-Olujobi (West), Wonuola Aje-Osinowo (East) and Modupe Olawoyin (Central).

The ex-Officios are Abu Oriyomi (West), Babatunde Olaoluwa (East), Alhaji Kpapiko Mohammed (Central 1), and Mrs. Ngozi Chinweuko (Central II).

The congress was also attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; three senators from the state, Senators Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Olamilekan Adeola (Lagos West) and Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), State Executive Council members, all serving members of the national and state assemblies, chairmen of local councils and party supporters.