Kunle Adelabu & Jare Babatunde
It was a case of “confusion break bones” (apologies to the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti) as multiple aspirants claimed victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Assembly primary elections in Ikorodu Constituency I and II.
The election, which was originally scheduled to hold at the Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), along Lagos Road, Owutu, Ikorodu, for the Ikorodu Constituency I and Mikson Onas Hall, along Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Road, Igbogbo, for Constituency II, on Thursday, was unable to hold as Electoral officers did not turn up at both centres and as a result, the elections rescheduled for 10am on Friday (yesterday), May 27, 2022.
While Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, the incumbent representative of the Ikorodu Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly who is seeking re – election for the third term and Mr Aro Abiodun are claiming victory in Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos Assembly and representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I, Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, the Director – General, Lagos State Sports Commission and Mr Gbolahan Adetokunbo Ogunleye, former Sole Administrator, Ikorodu LG and son of the former Deputy Governor in Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, are also laying claim to wining the APC primary in the Constituency I.
Different election results were been circulated on the social media platforms while protests are springing up at different quarters.
At the Constituency II venue in Igbogbo, the three Electoral Officers from the State Secretariat of the APC arrived at the primary election venue at 1.45pm.
Mr Oluwatosin Onamade was the first aspirant to arrive at the venue at around 2pm while the incumbent, who is seeking re – election for the third term, arrived several minutes later and Mr Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA) arrived 2.20pm.
The accreditation commenced at 2.25pm with aspirants, their agents and delegates called and allowed into the hall premises after clearance.
The three Council Chairmen – Builder Sesan Daini, Igbogboi/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo Alogba, Ijede LCDA and Hon. Wasiu Agoro, Imota, in lkorodu Constituency II, arrived the venue later and were allowed into the hall premises.
The three Council Chairmen were later politely asked to leave the premises by the Divisional Police Officer, Ikorodu Divisional Police Headquarters, Mr Blaogun, after about 20 minutes due to protest by party members who insisted that the Council Chairmen have no business with the conduct of the election.
APC Chairman in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA . Mr Taiwo Orenuga, was also prevented from participating in the election too.
In addition, the process was also delayed due to protest by one of the aspirants, Mr Onamade who protested against issuance of tags to the delegates of other aspirants a day before the election while his own delegates were denied tags.
There was also another protest by journalists when aides of one of the three Council Chairmen prevented them from gaining entry into the hall.
Our reporter in particular took exception to the harassment, stating that he has every right to cover the primary election and more so, he got clearance from the office of the Secretary to the State APC to cover all the primary elections.
It was later explained that journalist were prevented from doing their duty on the ground that two of the reporters are either aides or working for some of the aspirants and as such, they cannot give objective coverage.
The first delegate to exit the hall after voting came out at 2.50pm.
Meanwhile, Prince Saheed Oresanya, one of the aspirants, arrived the venue of the primary election at 3.05pm when the election was already underway and he was allowed into the hall at 3.16pm when the Electoral officer came out to cleared him.
At 3.45pm when the Electoral officers led aspirants and their agents out of the hall, which signalled the conclusion of the primary election, no result was announced. The officials were taken away in a waiting van and sped off with heavy police escorts, while chieftains and other party members also jumped into their vehicles in hot pursue.
The election did not end without confusion. First, it was Hon. Nurudeen Solaja who came out of the hall and throw two fingers into the air to signal victory which elicited shout loud responses from his supporters while his main challenger, Aro Moshood Abiodun also came out to meet his own supporter as they equally engaged in wide jubilation.
Mr Onamade was again seen protesting the outcome of the election in Igbogbo.
The security team led by the Mr Balogun, DPO Ikorodu Police Headquarters did great job in putting situation under control at the venue.
At the Ikorodu West LCDA venue of the Ikorodu Constituency l primary election, it was almost a similar case.
It was gathered that the election was moved from the hall that was initially picked as venue to another hall.
Like in Ikorodu Constituency II, journalists were also barred from covering the election proceedings.
Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, the former Deputy Governor, Lagos State, who came early and waited for hours for the commencement of the election expressed disappointment at the conduct of the election in Constituency I.
The Chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) who spoke to journalist, was unhappy with the changing of the hall, late commencement of election and the general conduct of the exercise.
Mr Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA and a delegate, described the outcome of the Ikorodu Constituency I primary election as expected and peaceful.
He charged aspirants and party members to accept the outcome but did not mention the winner or state the result.
“The primary produced fantastic results because we have a leader and when he talks, we have to follow suit. It was a clarion call for us no matter your interest, the moment the leader speaks, you must follow”, he said.
“The conduct was very peaceful and transparent. There was no issue at all.
“We are one family, wherever the result goes, we still have to come back together as one. We don’t have to split our party. If you don’t win today, you may win tomorrow. We must exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship”, he charged.
Hon. Motunrayo Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, said that the Constituency II election was free and fair.
“It was very free and fair conduct”, she said.
Former Chairman, Ijede LCDA and an agent to one of the aspirant in Constituency II, Hon. Fathiu Jimoh, speaking on the Constituency II election, said that it was well – organized and peaceful.
“It was a well – organized exercise. It went smoothly without any interruption by anybody. It was free and fair”
