Some members of the All Progressives Congress in Somolu Constituency II of Lagos State have protested the alleged imposition of a candidate, insisting they voted for the incumbent lawmaker Samuel Apata, during the party primaries held on May 20.
The aggrieved members staged protests at the Bariga APC secretariat and the state APC secretariat in Ikeja, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Hon. Apata won the primary election” and “No to imposition in Bariga.”
Speaking with Lazeera reporters before submitting their protest letters, a former councillor in the area, Olasupo Abiodun Kazeem, claimed that Apata won the primary election with 9,081 votes, while the second and third aspirants polled 814 and 677 votes.
Kazeem said the protesters were shocked to see the name of the aspirant who allegedly came third on the published list of successful candidates released by the party.
According to him, party members voted overwhelmingly for Apata because of his performance at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
He urged the party leadership to review the outcome against the certified results and delegate lists submitted by the Electoral Committee and INEC observers.
Kazeem added that residents of the constituency had benefited from Apata’s first term and deserved to return him for a second term.
Receiving the protest letter at the Bariga APC secretariat, the Administrative Secretary of the party, Omotayo Olusesan, assured the protesters that their letter would be delivered to the party chairman.
Meanwhile, a pressure group, Concerned APC Loyalists, Lagos State, also called on the party leadership to adhere strictly to the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
