…We’ll resist imposition in Amuwo-Odofin—Group
…LASIEC can’t conduct election in 37 LCDAs —Olarenwaju
ANGRY reactions have greeted the just concluded chairmanship primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, as aggrieved aspirants and groups kicked against the alleged imposition of candidates by some party leaders.
The aggrieved party members and leaders faulted those using President Bola Tinubu’s name to impose their candidates.
Recall that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, had slated July 12 for the conduct of chairmanship and councillor positions in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 LCDAs.
The APC Electoral Committee had last week cleared 432 chairmanship aspirants out of the 470 that submitted the nomination forms for the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs.
55 Chairmanship candidates emerged from the process, which was held at the party Secretariat, ACME, Ogba, on Saturday.
Earlier, delegates of no fewer than two LCDAs boycotted the exercise due to an unresolved internal crisis rocking the party’s council chapter.
The affected areas include: Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA.
Aside from the incumbent chairmen who lost, it was a mixed feeling for former lawmakers who participated in the exercise.
A former lawmaker, Yinka Ogundimu, who represented Agege at the State House of Assembly, lost to Abiodun Akinola.
Also, the General Manager of the Lagos Ferry Services, LAGFERRY, Ladi Balogun, who is nursing the ambition to lead his council, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, lost to another aspirant, during the exercise.
However, a former House of Representatives member, Babatunde Hunpe, was elected to lead the Badagry Local Government towards achieving better growth.
Protests rock exercise
The aftermath of the exercise, however, generated angry reactions as aspirants and concerned groups rejected the results.
Shortly after the announcement of results, the incumbent Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Olufunke Hassan, described the outcome as a “rumour.”
Hassan, who faulted the exercise, said: “A rumour has come to my notice of the imposition of one Moyosore Adebanjo as the APC Chairmanship Candidate for Onigbongbo LCDA.
“This candidacy has emerged through the kangaroo process of imposition, which negates the well-known norms of electing a candidate of the party, which is either through consensus or party primary.
“The hallmark of internal democracy in the political party is that every candidate must undergo approved primaries, which negates the imposition of candidates. However, the charade that took place at the APC party state Secretariat, Lagos, which was orchestrated by Onigbongbo LCDA party leader (name withheld) and her cohorts, was a mere smokescreen that can neither stand the test of morality nor judicial scrutiny.”
Also in Amuwo-Odofin LGA, some party members rejected the emergence of the candidate, saying he was imposed via the influence of the party leadership.
The group, identified as the Progressives Group, in a protest letter, said: “We will resist any attempt to impose a Chairman selected from Abuja or any external power structure.
“Such undemocratic interference is a direct insult to the will of the people and an assault on the very foundation of grassroots governance.
“Amuwo-Odofin deserves leadership born from the community, leaders who understand our daily struggles, aspirations, and unique local realities. We say no to political mercenaries who seek to hijack our future for selfish interests.
“We are championing a new narrative for grassroots governance, that is, one rooted in transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. Our new reality is anchored on people-driven leadership that prioritises education, youth empowerment, infrastructure development, participatory democracy and others.
“Our people must be allowed to freely elect their leaders through an uncompromising, transparent, fair, and credible electoral process. It should be strongly noted that we will mobilise, organise, and resist every action aimed at not making our votes count.
“This is not just a political stance; it is a movement to restore dignity, autonomy, and people-centred development to Amuwo-Odofin. We call on all stakeholders to stand with us as we defend the soul of our local democracy.”
We must challenge this absurdity—Ex-Communications Minister
Meanwhile, former Minister of Communications, Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olarenwaju (retd), warned against alleged plans by LASIEC to conduct elections into 37 LCDAs not recognised by the Constitution.
Speaking on the development, Gen. Olanrewaju said: “We need more voices to challenge this absurdity.
“If elections were to be conducted in 20 constitutionally recognised LGAs, indigenes would form 90 per cent of the contestants. With an additional 37 LCDAs, the indigenes have been schemed out of the contest.
“It is obvious now that the state indigenes have lost their patrimony. I think one of the participating parties can go to court and challenge the status quo. Can’t this course of action be taken?
“It is unconstitutional to contest elections in both 20 constitutionally recognised LGAS and unconstitutionally incubated 37 LCDAs in Lagos State. This election will be a nullity if any of the participating parties should challenge the conduct of the election in the court.”
YP chairmanship candidate kicks
Also, the Youth Party, YP, Chairmanship Candidate for Eti-Osa LGA, Ayodele Adio, insisted that LASIEC can not conduct elections into the 37 LCDAs, saying they are not constitutionally recognised.
Adio, in a statement, faulted the efforts by some stakeholders in APC to conduct elections in the LCDAs.
He said: “We are hearing that elections are going to be held in 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs. That was a combustible issue in the debate we had in the public hearing because, just like the Youth Party did several other lawyers and several other political parties had made the clear argument that it was illegal to contest elections in 37 LCDAs that are not recognized by the Constitution.
“Unfortunately, we seem to have carried on business as usual. I say this because, if indeed those 37 LCDAs are recognized by law, Jimi Benson, and James Faleke who represent Ikeja Constituency will not be sponsoring an amendment in the National Assembly to recognize the 37 LCDAs as legitimate local government in Lagos.
“Because they also recognized that those LCDAs are not recognized by law and hence the reasons for sponsoring that bill in the National Assembly, so that Constitution can be amended to recognize those 37 LCDAs and until that amendment is made, it is illegal, it is unconstitutional to conduct or elect members into those LCDAs that are strangers to the law.
“President Bola Tinubu was the one who created the LCDAs. He was so passionate about them that he fought for them up to the Supreme Court. He’s been president for two years now. His administration only sends money to the 20 Local Governments recognised in Lagos.
“As passionate as he is about the 37 LCDAs, none of them got a dime from Abuja. So, why are we perpetuating this gross and brazen illegality to conduct elections into offices that are not recognised by the law? How is it going to be funded?”(Vanguard)
