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From Lukman Olabiyi
Crisis has erupted within the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations of irregularities, confusion and parallel claims of victory that trailed the party’s House of Representatives primary elections held on Saturday.
In Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency, some aspirants rejected the outcome of the exercise, insisting that no valid election took place in several wards across the constituency.
The aggrieved aspirants which include: Prince Abdulhakeem Animashahun, Lanre Oshun and Dr. Tokunbo Oluwole described the primary as chaotic, alleging widespread irregularities, disruption and intimidation by political actors and their supporters.
The aspirants, who have reportedly submitted a formal petition to the APC Lagos State Secretariat in ACME, Ogba, called on the party leadership to nullify the exercise and investigate the conduct of electoral officials involved in the process.
According to them, elections did not hold in at least eight wards within the constituency due to confusion and breakdown of order during the exercise.
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They questioned how results could have been declared and submitted by the returning officer despite the alleged failure of voting in many polling areas.
They urged the Lagos APC leadership to immediately cancel the submitted results and constitute an independent panel to investigate complaints arising from the primary election.
Similarly, confusion also trailed the APC primary election in Kosofe Federal Constituency, where two aspirants laid claim to victory.
The incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, claimed she emerged winner of the poll, while former Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Dele Oshinowo, also declared himself winner.
As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State chapter of the APC had yet to officially respond to the allegations raised by the aggrieved aspirants.
