A legal challenge is threatening the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primary in the Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos, as former state lawmaker and aspirant, Rotimi Olowo, has dragged the party to court over alleged vote inflation and irregularities.
Olowo, a two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is asking the court to declare him the rightful winner of the May 10 primary and to compel the APC to produce all materials used in the election. The case is currently before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Yaba.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, presided over by Justice Mojisola Balogun, the court granted Olowo’s request to serve the defendants electronically via WhatsApp, citing efficiency concerns after they failed to appear in person. The judge also ordered that photographic evidence and device printouts used for serving the documents be submitted to the court.
The defendants include Ashimi Lateef, the declared winner of the primary; Ogalla; Lawal Pedro, chairman of the APC Peace Committee; and the APC itself. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), also named as a defendant, has already been served.
Speaking to reporters, Olowo’s counsel, Philip Jimoh Lasisi (SAN), described the primary as lacking credibility and democratic integrity, citing discrepancies in the official results. “There were only 25 accredited voters, yet 26 votes were declared—23 for Ashimi Lateef, three for another aspirant, and zero for Olowo and 15 others. That clearly indicates manipulation,” he said.
The case has heightened tensions within the Shomolu chapter of the APC, where party members and residents staged protests in May, rejecting the result and accusing local leaders of imposing a candidate.
The legal dispute comes just weeks before the July 12 local government elections in Lagos, raising concerns about the APC’s internal democratic processes and its readiness for the polls.
Justice Balogun adjourned the matter to July 7 for an accelerated hearing. (Daily trust)
