Ibrahim Quadri
Some aggrieved members of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed the party secretariat on Tuesday to protest the results of the chairmanship primaries.
Recall that the Chairman of the party’s Electoral Committee, Barr. Babatunde Ogala, had earlier announced that the Appeal Committee would begin sitting immediately at the Secretariat to consider complaints and petitions following the primary exercise.
Daily Champion gathered that the protesters who came from Badagry West, Mushin, Lagos Island, Amuwo-Odofin, Itire-Ikate, Ikoyi-Obalende, and Coker-Aguda, displayed various placards.
Some of the placards read: “We Say No to Open Imposition of Candidates”, “President Tinubu, Save Our Party from Another Defeat”, “Return the Mandate to the Choice of the People”, “APC Must Show the Beauty of Democracy for Others to Follow.”
Leading the aggrieved members and selected delegates from Badagry West, Mr. Emmanuel Bankole urged the Appeal Committee set up by the party to critically review their case and allow justice to prevail.
He said the aspirant backed by the majority of the delegates in his council is not afraid to lose honorably if the process had been free, fair, and credible.
According to him, most of the delegates from Badagry West voted for Princess Oluremi Funmi Nutayi but were shocked when she was recorded as having received no votes in the official result.
Bankole alleged that the process was manipulated, expressing confidence that justice would be served.
He praised the Mr. Lawal Pedro-led Appeal Committee, describing its members as people of integrity who would be guided by the evidence presented.
He warned that it would be difficult for the party to campaign in Badagry West ahead of the July 12 local government election, saying the denial of the people’s choice has dampened the spirit of the aspirant and her supporters.
In Mushin, another group of protesters led by Hon.Yusuf Qadri Temitope emphasized that their protest was not against the party but against the conduct and outcome of the primary election.
He accused some party leaders in Mushin of betraying the will of the people by imposing an unpopular candidate.
Hon. Temitope explained that out of the ten wards that make up the council, no one was chosen as a delegate to vote in the primary.
He further alleged that the outgoing Chairman in Mushin, Mr. Emmanuel Bamigboye, summoned a meeting at the council secretariat where delegates were imposed without broader party participation.
According to him, many members who were excluded from the process are hopeful that the Appeal Committee will do justice, noting that Mushin has enough credible aspirants to represent the party better than the leaders’ preferred candidate.
