Lagos APC Primaries: Aspirants demand cancellation, probe of irregularities

By Henry Obetta

Thousands of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State on Tuesday stormed the party secretariat in Ogba, protesting alleged irregularities that marred the recently concluded House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly primary elections across several constituencies.

The protesters, made up of party members, supporters and loyalists of aggrieved aspirants, called on the APC leadership and appeal committees to investigate the conduct of the primaries and reverse what they described as widespread violations of the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.

Constituencies at the centre of the controversy include Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Amuwo Odofin Constituency II, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I, Somolu Constituency II, Alimosho Constituency, Agege Constituency I and Eti-Osa Constituency I.

One of the petitions was filed by House of Representatives aspirant, Ayodele Adebowale Adewale, who challenged the outcome of the Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency primary election.

He alleged that the exercise across 11 wards was marred by procedural irregularities, including the absence of an official membership register during accreditation, with party members allegedly verified only through APC slips without proper identity checks.

Adewale also claimed that some of the slips used were unofficial and possibly produced outside approved party structures. He urged the party to conduct an independent investigation, review all electoral materials, nullify the results and enforce strict compliance with party guidelines going forward.

He also submitted video evidence said to capture his interaction with officials during accreditation in Festac 1 Ward.

Similarly, House of Assembly aspirant for Amuwo Odofin Constituency II, David Olukoya Doherty, petitioned the party over alleged irregularities in the primary election across seven wards.

Doherty alleged lack of transparency in the selection of returning officers, exclusion of aspirants from key decisions, and claims that the process was influenced in favour of the incumbent lawmaker.

He further alleged that armed men disrupted voting in some riverine wards, forcing party members to flee and rendering the process inconclusive in those areas.

He called for a full, independent investigation, review of accreditation materials, possible nullification of the election and disciplinary action against those found culpable.

Speaking during the protest, Moses Kolawale Omonera said party members were demanding that their mandate be respected, insisting that Doherty should represent them in the forthcoming election.

He alleged that results were manipulated and not reflective of the actual votes cast.

In Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, petitioners also alleged widespread irregularities, including manipulation of results and flawed collation processes during the House of Representatives primary.

They claimed electoral officers failed to report to designated collation centres, while results were allegedly altered before being submitted to party authorities.

Specific allegations included inflated vote figures in Ago-Hausa, Temidire I and Olodi wards, failure of accreditation processes, and cases of voter intimidation.

Supporters of APC candidate Kolawole Musaibu insisted he won the election with over 10,000 votes and should be recognised as the rightful candidate.

In Somolu Constituency II, incumbent lawmaker Samuel Olu Apata also petitioned the party, rejecting attempts to overturn his victory.

He said he won the primary with 9,081 votes, defeating his closest rivals, and urged the party leadership to affirm his nomination and issue him a certificate.

His supporters maintained that he remains the legitimate candidate and warned against imposition of an alternative aspirant.

In Alimosho Federal Constituency, Azeez Moshood Abiola alleged that despite polling over 37,000 votes, a candidate was denied the party’s ticket in favour of another aspirant.

Meanwhile, in Eti-Osa Constituency I, supporters of incumbent lawmaker Noheem Adams urged the party to uphold his victory, claiming he secured over 7,000 votes and had earlier been adopted as a consensus candidate.

In Agege, party members accused the leadership of disregarding primary results, alleging that candidates who scored the highest votes were being denied tickets.

They warned that overturning the outcomes could cause internal disaffection and weaken the party ahead of future elections.

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