By Priscilla Osaje
A group representing the executive members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State on Friday protested at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja over the outcome of its primary election for Agege Constituency I.
The group alleged that the result of the primary election was altered after the exercise and called on the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to review the outcome.
Speaking during a news conference, the leader of the group, Mr Johnson Kolawole, said the protesters comprised chairmen and secretaries of the five wards in Agege Local Government Area, as well as the local government party chairman and secretary.
Kolawole alleged that Mr Egunjobi Ganiyu Kola won the APC primary election conducted on May 20, but was not subsequently recognised as the party’s candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly election.
According to him, Kola secured 9,132 votes out of the 10,126 votes cast across the five wards in the constituency.
He said another aspirant, Mr Oladipo Tunde Shola, polled 560 votes, while Mr Michael Abiola scored 434 votes.
Kolawole further alleged that Egunjobi was duly screened, cleared and declared winner of the primary by the designated returning officer, Hon. Kayode Kassim Eleshin, at the conclusion of the exercise.
He said the primary election was monitored by APC officials, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, journalists and other stakeholders, describing the process as peaceful, transparent and credible.
The group, however, expressed concern over the publication of Mr Oluwagbenga Michael Abiola as the APC candidate for Agege Constituency I in a newspaper publication dated May 25.
Kolawole argued that the published result did not reflect the outcome announced at the primary election and urged the party’s national leadership to review the records of the exercise.
“We respectfully urge the National Working Committee and all relevant organs and committees of our great party to uphold the authentic result as declared by the returning officer and formally recognise Egunjobi Ganiyu Kola as the duly elected APC candidate for Lagos State House of Assembly, Agege Constituency I,” he said.
Kolawole said the group was prepared to provide documentary and video evidence from the five wards, as well as reports from election observers and security agencies, to support its claims.
He also appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership to intervene and ensure that what the group described as the genuine mandate of party members in the constituency was protected. (NAN)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
