The governor of Lagos state, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, members of the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, state Executive Council, leaders and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are leading other personalties at the party’s ongoing 2022 Governorship primary at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly, Onikan Stadium,Lagos Island.
Amid tight security comprising of men of Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Lagos State Neighborhood and Safety Corps, as of 12. 50pm, only one governorship aspirant out of the three was present in person of Sanwo-Olu.
Though, all necessary materials and officials, including officials of the independent national electoral commission are on ground for the exercise.
Five delegates from 245 wards across 20 recognized Local Government Areas are expected to cast their votes, totalling 1,225 delegates.
APC delegates and party supporters are also gathered at the venue, to take part in the voting exercise.
Other two aspirants, are: Wale Oluwo, a former Commissioner for Energy, and Mustapha Olorunfemi, former permanent secretary also the Ministry of Energy, who both served during the immediate past administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
By 1, 15pm, Adamu Shettima, former deputy governor of Borno State, who is the Chairman Electoral Committee of the primary, addressed the gathering.
According to him, “This is an important an assignment that worth the trouble. We are here to renew the mandate of Governor in Lagos State. I know we are all one family.
“Lagos is very important to APC, considering the fact that we are hoping that the next Presidential candidate Wil come out from.”
Shettima later, called for the commencement of the election process, which was immediately preceded by the accreditation of delegates.
Meanwhile, APC House of Assembly Primaries is said to be under threat in Amuwo Odofin Constituency 1.
One of the 20 elected delegates that will produce the flagbearer of the APC for the elective post of the Lagos State House of Assembly in Amuwo Odofin Constituency 1, Peter Nicholas, has raised alarm that some unseen forces from top hierarchy of the party at the state level has concluded plans to impose the incumbent State legislator from the Constituency, Mojisola Macaulay on the delegates, who have been mandated to sign an agreement document to produce Macaulay as the consensus candidate for the forthcoming legislative election in the State.
And in a situation where the delegates refuse to abide by the directive, a candidate of the party’s choice will be announced without conducting the primaries against what is stipulated in the INEC’S election guideline.
The primaries which will commence in Amuwo Odofin Constituency 1 at 2 at the designated Center, Rosebay Garden and Resort Center in Festac Town, is statutorily expected to be conducted for the five aspirants jostling for the position with 20 delegates to vote the aspirant of their choice without any form of intimidation or threat to the delegates.
Information revealed that one of the aspirants, Ola Folorunso Western, who has already polled 13 delegates out of the 20 is optimistic that if the delegates are allowed to vote freely without the unseen hands of the state to favour a particular aspirant, he will be victorious at the primaries.
Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, the State Chairman of the APC in Lagos State it was gathered had earlier, asked the strong contender of the election, Ola Folorunso Western to step down for the incumbent who is seeking a return, Mojisola Macaulay.
This promise was turned down by Ola Folorunso Western which believes the will of the people must prevail above personal interest.
