Concerns have emerged within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations of irregularities in the House of Representatives primaries held on Monday, with several aspirants calling for a review of the exercise.
Some aspirants alleged that aspects of the conduct of the primaries were influenced by internal party alignments and that the process may not have fully reflected the choices of delegates in certain constituencies, reports Daily Independent.
As of yesterday, no fewer than five petitions were reportedly submitted to President Bola Tinubu, the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and other party leaders.
Among those who submitted petitions were Oluseye Oladejo, who contested for Mushin Federal Constituency; Akeem Animashaun, Mainland Federal Constituency; Kolawole Taiwo, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency; Ayodele Adewale, Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency; Dr. Adesola Samuel Adedayo, Apapa Federal Constituency; and Prince Abdul Animashaun.
The petitioners raised concerns bordering on the conduct of electoral officials, accreditation processes, and the collation of results. They called for greater transparency in future party primaries and urged the party leadership to address grievances arising from the exercise.
In some of the petitions, aspirants alleged discrepancies in the handling of votes across several wards, including claims that some results did not reflect the pattern of voting observed at certain polling units. There were also complaints about delays and interruptions during collation in some areas.
For instance, in Mushin Federal Constituency, one of the petitions claimed that there were disruptions in the collation process, with concerns raised about how final figures were announced after the exercise resumed at a later stage.
In Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, a petitioner, Ayodele Adewale, called for a review of the process across the 11 wards in the area. He urged the party to investigate the accreditation and voting procedures, review all relevant materials used during the primaries, and ensure strict compliance with party guidelines going forward.
In Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, another aspirant, Kolawole Taiwo, also raised concerns over the announced results, calling for a reassessment of the outcome. Another petition from the same constituency similarly urged the party leadership to review the declaration of results and address perceived inconsistencies.
One of the petitions from Mushin Constituency also alleged challenges in the collation process, including claims of sudden changes in figures announced after initial ward results had been submitted.
Some of the aggrieved aspirants warned that unresolved issues arising from the primaries could affect party cohesion ahead of the general election if not addressed.
However, the Lagos State government has dismissed suggestions of interference in the process. The LASG stated that the primaries were conducted in a manner that allowed participation from all stakeholders and that all groups within the party were adequately accommodated.
He maintained that the exercise provided a level playing field for aspirants.
Efforts to obtain responses from some party officials, including the state chairman, were not successful at the time of filing this report.
