Follow Us on Google
No fewer than six aggrieved aspirants have submitted petitions to President Bola Tinubu, the APC national leadership and Lagos APC officials, challenging the outcome of the exercise and calling for a review of the process.
The petitioners include former Lagos APC spokesperson, Oluseye Oladejo, who contested for Mushin Federal Constituency; Akeem Animashaun (Mainland); Kolawole Taiwo (Ajeromi-Ifelodun); Ayodele Adewale (Amuwo-Odofin); Dr. Adesola Samuel Adedayo (Apapa); and Prince Abdul Animashaun.
The aspirants alleged that the primaries were marred by irregularities, including alleged manipulation of results, disenfranchisement of party members and procedural breaches.
Some of the petitioners accused Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and prominent party leaders of allegedly influencing the exercise in favour of preferred candidates.
The aggrieved aspirants also alleged that the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, played a prominent role in the conduct of the primaries.
In his petition, Adewale challenged the validity of the results declared in several wards in Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, alleging substantial irregularities during accreditation and voting.
Other News
According to him, some registered party members were allegedly disenfranchised, while electoral officials failed to enforce due process during the exercise.
Similarly, Taiwo, who contested in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, alleged discrepancies in the collation of votes, while Oladejo claimed that the returning officer in Mushin Federal Constituency failed to follow proper collation procedures.
The petitioners called on the APC leadership to investigate the conduct of the primaries, review the results announced in affected constituencies and ensure compliance with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
They warned that failure to address the grievances could affect party cohesion ahead of the general election.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Gbenga Akosile, dismissed the allegations, maintaining that all aspirants were given a fair and level playing ground during the exercise.
Efforts to get reactions from the Lagos APC leadership and Faleke were unsuccessful as of press time.
