By Lukman Olabiyi
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) faces turmoil over voter fraud allegations against chairmanship aspirants ahead of the Local Government elections.
Three aspirants are at the centre of the controversy: Mr Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, contesting for Igbogbo Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), and Mr Alogba Babawale and Mr Azeez Lamina Oshoala, both vying for Ikorodu Local Government. Party members allege Babawale and Oshoala do not reside in Ikorodu Local Government, as required, claiming they hail from Ikorodu West and Ikorodu North, respectively.
Moreover, all three aspirants are accused of possessing and using multiple Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), constituting voter fraud. A petition by Mr Jinadu Oshinleye, represented by Chukwuyem Atewe Esq, was submitted to the Lagos APC chairman and Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, among others. It accuses Aroyewun of breaching the Electoral Act.
The petition states Aroyewun was registered in Ward Ijede J, Polling Unit 24-12-13-006, during his 2023 Lagos State House of Assembly candidacy for Ikorodu Constituency II. However, he is now allegedly using a different PVC for Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA, registered under Polling Unit 24-12-09-009 in Igbogbo.
“This constitutes multiple registrations, a clear breach of Section 12(3) of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines,” the petition claims, noting the new PVC cannot be verified on INEC’s portal.
The petitioner cites past APC screenings, like Ajeromi/Ifelodun LGA, where aspirants were disqualified for similar irregularities, as a precedent.