Kunle Adelabu
Aspirants for the Ikorodu Constituency l seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly and House of Representatives, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have expressed optimism that the primary elections that failed to hold on Sunday, May 22,2022, would eventually hold.
They also expressed individual confidence of winning whenever the primary elections would be held.
Also, party chieftains that spoke with THE IMPACT, after about 11 hours of waiting in vain for the electoral officer and election materials, also said that they are confident that the party would hold its primary election at the national level.
The primary election for the Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly seat, which was scheduled for between 9 am and 12pm on Sunday, while that of the House of Representatives was slated for between 12pm and 2pm at the Ikorodu Club House, Ikorodu, on Sunday, were unable to hold till 7pm when delegates and party chieftains left the venue.
It was the same situation at the Admos Hotel in Imota venue for the Ikorodu Constituency II primary election.
There was heavy security presence as military personnel, Nigerian police, Nigerian Civil Defense Corp, Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited/GTE and private security personnel, were fully on ground.
The Divisional Police Officer, Ikorodu Divisional Police Headquarters, Mr Balogun was on ground to coordinate the security, alongside the Director of State Security Service (SSS), Ikorodu Division.
Hon. Atoloye Olayiwola, Chairman, Lagos for Lagos, Ikorodu Division, speaking with our reporter, said that failure of the party’s primary elections is not new to them.
“I believe that the challenges are normal in politics and the leadership at the top would find a way of sorting it out and there would be a day that the election would be conducted properly”, he said.
“Definitely, there would be an election and nobody is going to impose anybody on anybody”.
Chief Taiwo Adekogbe, the immediate past Chairman, PDP Ikorodu and a national delegate, said that the primary elections was unable to hold because the Electoral Officer that was sent from Abuja to conduct the election was kidnapped.
He, however, expressed optimism that the elections would still hold and that if not possible, there may be consensus candidates.
The former party chairman also advised delegates to vote wisely for aspirants that would win the election for the party in 2023.
“I have been here since 7am waiting for the election to start but from reliable sources l think, the EO (electoral officer) from Abuja, was kidnapped at the airport”, he said.
“So, there is no result sheet and if that is not available, it means that there is no election.
“More so, the delegate list that was released was not a genuine one. It’s not authentic. They need to bring the authentic delegate list. That is when the election can come up.
“Consensus is also acceptable for party’s primary elections if there is no time for the elections again, but if the President signed the law tomorrow, we will be good to go.
“From the look of things, if there is unity in the party, we will dislodged APC in 2023.
“My advice for the delegates is that they should choose wisely and vote for persons that would win elections for the party”, he said.
The PDP House of Representatives candidate in 2019, who is again aspiring for the position, Hon. Popoola Omotola, speaking with THE IMPACT, also expressed optimism that she would win the primary whenever it is conducted.
“We have been here since 8.30am and this is almost 7pm, yet, there is no election. I will tell my delegates to hold on and let’s hear from the party”, she said.
“Definitely, I will win and emerge as the party’s candidate again if the election holds tomorrow (today). I will definitely be here tomorrow (today) with my delegates if the election is holding”.
Mr Olalekan Olamide Lawal, aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, while also stating that the failed primary was the decision of the party, also expressed optimism of emerging the party’s candidate for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat.
“I don’t really have much to say, but what I know is that every decision comes from the national body of the party”, Lawal said.
“It is the national decision and this is not the first time the election has been postponed. It’s not a new thing and we are used to it.
“However, if the election holds tomorrow (today), I am sure that l will win the PDP’s primary election for the Ikorodu Constituency l Assembly seat”, he said.
