Kunle Adelabu
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in lkorodu Local Government, Alhaji Taiwo Longe, has allayed fears in some quarters that certain aspirants would be imposed by the party as candidates in the forthcoming primary election on May 29, for the selection of Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates.
Alhaji Longe, speaking in an interview with THE IMPACT on Wednesday, May 12, also confirmed that there are four Chairmanship and 30 Councillorship aspirants jostling to clinch the party’s ticket for the Local Government election slated for July 24.
The four aspirants that are aspiring for the Chairmanship position of the Ikorodu Local Government are Hon. Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo, former Council Leader, Ikorodu LG, Alhaji Rilwan Ishola Jinadu, former Ikorodu APC Chairman and former aspirant for the Ikorodu LG Chairmanship position, Prince Folashade Olabanji – Oba, the incumbent Vice Chairman and the current Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina.
“There is nothing like imposition this time around. They are all going to the primary and the party has made its position known and very clear on the matter and it is going to be a direct primary which means that all the card – carrying members of the party will participate to elect their candidates”, Alhaji Longe said.
“By the grace of God, we are all looking forward to that day”.
He said that the party has tried to ensure that some of the aspirants reached consensus but that those that insist on obtaining the party forms will definitely have their day at the party’s primary to test their strengths.
“Well, as a party, we tried our best to reduce the aspirants to the figure that we are having right now because many actually aspired for the positions but we asked leaders in various Wards to talk to them. In some cases, it was amicably settled while in other cases, it could not be resolved. As a result, we encouraged the aspirants to obtain forms and go the primary election”.
While confirming that four Chairmanship and 30 Councillorship aspirants met the party’s deadline on Tuesday, May 11, regarding the submission of their nomination forms, the APC Chairman said that screening will commence at the weekend in accordance with the party’s guidelines for the election.
“The next line of action after the deadline for the submission of forms, as stated in the party’s guidelines, is the screening which begins on Saturday, May 15”, he said.
“The screening for the party’s chairmanship aspirant will take place at the APC Secretariat at ACME, Ogba, Lagos, while the screening for the Councillorship aspirants will be at their respective party LGAs.
“Screening committees for the Councilorship aspirants are going to be swapped across the LGAs and have also been inaugurated. For instance, the members of the screening committee in Ikorodu LGA will be transferred to another LGA for the screening exercise, while another set will come to Ikorodu LGA from another LGA”.
He said that despite the fact that APC is the ruling party, the party is not leaving any stone unturned as they are working towards defeating other opposition parties in the coming election.
“APC is really on the ground. We are the party to beat as far as Local Government, State and Federal elections are concerned.
“We welcome all other parties for the coming competitive elections but by the grace of God, I know that our party will triumph over them”.
He gave insight into what the aspirants would be subjected to by the party during the screening exercise.
“Although, I am not a member of the screening committee, but according to the guidelines, the screening committee will be looking at the commitment of the aspirants to the party; if they are eligible party member; examining their certificates and qualifications for any discrepancy; their financial standing in the party and tax clearance among other things. Those are things that I see as basics that they will be asking them among others” , Alhaji Longe told THE IMPACT.
On the fear that the direct primary adopted by the party may cause violence, the APC Chairman assured that the party has put necessary mechanisms in place to ensure a free and fair primary election in picking the party’s Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates.
“The party is trying all its possible best to checkmate violence conduct and we are also going to provide enough security. All that I know is that we are going to checkmate any act of thuggery during the primary election.
“We have also compelled all the aspirants to sign undertakings which were read to their hearings and they have also appended their signatures on the undertakings. Aspirants are going to be held responsible for any misbehavior on the part of their respective supporters”, he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement released by the APC State Secretary, Hon Lanre Ogunyemi, after the deadline for the submission of nomination forms, there are 333 Chairmanship and 1,O46 Councilorship aspirants that will be contesting in the party’s primary election.
