2023: Aggrieved Lagos APC Members Storm Tinubu’s Residence
Some aggrieved members of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed the residence of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to denounced the primary election which produced Lanre Oshun as the party’s House of Representatives candidate for the Lagos Mainland (West) federal constituency.
The protesters who came in their hundreds, expressed their grievances and displeasure against the primary election.
In a press statement, jointly signed by Baba Babs Fashina and Akibu Bankole, Chairman and Secretary respectively of Lagos Mainland West Elders Forum, alleged that the primary election held on Friday, May 27, 2022 in their constituency was a complete fraud.
The Elders Forum said the exercise suffered from substantial non-compliance with the Constitution of APC, the Electoral Act 2022 and the party’s guidelines for the conduct of primaries.
According to the Punch, the rejection of the outcome of the primary by the Elders Forum was made following an appeal filed by one of the leading aspirants for the ticket, Prince Akeem Animashaun, with the Primary Election Appeal Committee of the APC.
The petition which was levelled against to the APC Appeal Committee, dated May 29, 2022, described the exercise as a charade, lacking any compliance with the constitution of the party, its rules and guidelines for the conduct of primaries, and the Electoral Act 2022.
Animashaun asserted that the delegates who voted in the primary were not elected by members of the party, and were selected by a few individuals to the exclusion of other party members, in total disregard for the constitution of APC and the Electoral Act 2022.
The protesters disowned Hon. Lanre Oshun as the party’s candidate for Lagos Mainland for the House of Representatives.
Speaking, one of the protesters identified himself as Afolabi Ahmed of Ward I, Lagos Mainland local government, said “As you see us, we are for Jagaban (Tinubu). He is our next president. He is our father. He has been our leader for a long time.
“But as you can see on the placard (which says Oshun is not their candidate), we support the Youth Agenda. We support Prince Akeem Animashaun for Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency. Awa lo kan (It is our turn).”
The protesters alleged that there are strong indications that there is an ongoing plot to sweep under the carpet Animashaun’s petition, so as to sustain the alleged sham primary that produced Hon. Lanre Oshun.
Another protester said, “The koko (crux) of this matter is that the primary for the House of Representatives was not conducted in compliance with the provisions of the APC constitution and by extension the Electoral Act.”
One of the protesters also explained that Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency is divided into three parts, Ebute – Metta (West), Ebute –Metta (East) and Yaba, adding that it is only Ebute-Metta (West) that has not produced a House of Representatives member.
He said, “Since 1999 till date, the House of Representatives position has been rotated between Yaba and Ebute–Metta (East). The incumbent member, Hon. Jide Jimoh, a two-term member, is from Yaba. Hon. Lanre Oshun, a four-term (16 years) member of the Lagos State House of Assembly is also from Yaba. Meanwhile, Ebute – Metta (West) has never been allowed to produce a candidate to represent Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency.”