The zoning of governorship ticket to Lagos East senatorial district by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not sacrosanct, as top-shots opposed to it are perfecting plans to scuttle it at the zero hour, Nigerian Tribune gathered on Monday.

Those interested in the governorship race, excluded by the zoning arrangement, are planning to judicially scuttle the agenda, it was learnt.

One of those involved in the fresh move is yet to announce his candidacy, but had been severally projected into the race since permutations began.

A highly-placed party source told Nigerian Tribune that the idea to scuttle the controversial zoning arrangement was not limited to aspirants zoned out of the race, considering the sympathy that the move was reportedly attracting from other aspirants from Lagos East.

The sympathy from the said Lagos East aspirants was said to be borne out of the perceived bias of the party leadership in taking the zoning decision.

It was reasoned that the zoning arrangement was mainly to favour the alleged anointed aspirant of the party leadership, a former Accountant-General of the state, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

The party leadership, however, claimed it zoned the governorship ticket to the zone to ensure fair-play and justice, given that it was the only zone yet to produce governor since the advent of the current republic.

Nigerian Tribune was told that the planned judicial truncation of the zoning arrangement would be done at the last minute, when it would be practically impossible for the party to do anything about it.

An order of court, according to the source, would be sourced against it, with the race expected to be thrown open at the last minute.

The source was quoted to have said: “I can assure you that the zoning thing would not stand. How do you stop aspirants from other zones who you sold expression of interest form to, when they have properly indicated their interest and the constitution of the party does not bar them?

“When you get to court, what would be paramount is whether you have locus standi to institute the action or not. What else would you need after showing that you are a proper party member, you have right to aspire for the office, you properly indicate your interest and form is sold to you? What zoning arrangement would override constitutional right?"

The source mentioned a particular aspirant (names withheld) who is likely to be a huge beneficiary of the planned dislocation of the zoning agenda, pointing out the forces behind him.

Meanwhile, an evening tabloid, PM News, reported on Monday that the elders’ forum of the party recently met with some aspirants and insisted that the zoning arrangement should be upheld.

Leaders from Lagos East like Alhaji Busura Alebiosu, Bashorun Olorunfunmi, among others, were said to be at the meeting.

Aspirants said to be at the meeting included Ambode, Dr Tola Kasali, Dr Leke Pitan, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Senator Ganiyu Solomon.

At the said meeting, the APC elders reportedly screened the aspirants and listened to their programmes.

The crisis rocking the party had also taken a new twist, with the reported breach of an earlier agreement of automatic tickets for senators of the party from the state, particularly those who wish to return.

Of the three senators from the state, only Senator Ganiyu Solomon from Lagos West opted out for a shot at the governorship ticket in the state.

However, an aspirant has come out in Lagos Central to challenge Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the national leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu. His name is Tokunbo Odutola.

A source revealed to Nigerian Tribune that his emergence was a beginning of a new dimension to the governorship ticket in the state.

•Source: Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows Lagos APC guber frontrunner Akinwunmi Ambode.