APC assembly primary turns bloody in Lagos

APC assembly primary turns bloody in Lagos

•One person shot — Police •Lai Mohammed’s son defeat Kenny St Brown •Desmond Elliot wins •Over 10 sitting lawmakers lose

FOUR people were feared dead in the primaries held by the Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) at Arena, in Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland Constituency 1.

Incumbent member of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Bashiru Oloto and another aspirant, Oladele Adekanye, contested over who becomes the party’s standard-bearer in the state House of Assembly poll for 2015.

Adekanye, the immediate past chairman of Mainland Local Government Area of the state, popularly addressed as Lado, defeated Oloto.

Violence was said to have erupted, following the announcement of the result by the returning officer.

Also, it was gathered that lives were feared lost in Ojokoro in Ifako/Ijaiye constituency, soon after the results of the exercise were announced, as a result of protest by some said to have felt aggrieved about the way and manner the exercise was conducted.

However, police were said to have moved in to arrest the situation and bring peace to the affected areas.

Notwithstanding, Folajinmi Jubril, son of the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, scaled the hurdle to defeat a hip-hop artiste, Kenny St Brown and two others to become the party’s standard-bearer for Ikeja 1 constituency, where the current Speaker, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, represents.

Also, Oladimeji, son of the Lagos APC chairman, Chief Oladele Ajomale, defeated a sitting lawmaker, Honourable (Mrs) Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet in the exercise, to pick the party’s ticket for Osodi/Isolo constituency.

The exercise recorded major upset, as some more sitting lawmakers lost their seats to opponents, majority of whom are greenhorns.

The casualties were the majority leader, Honourable Adebayo Adeyeye; the chief whip, Honourable Razak Balogun; Honourable Ipoola Omisore; Honourable Kabiru Lawal, who gave way to a Nollywood artiste, Desmond Elliot; Honourable Muftau Egberongbe, Honourable Wahab Alawiye-King, Honourable Akeem Masha, Honourable Ibrahim Layode, Honourable Ramota Akinola-Hassan, Honourable Suruh Avoseh, among others.

Those among the lawmakers who won the primaries were the deputy speaker, Kolawole Taiwo, who scored 131 votes to beat his opponent, who polled 105; Rotimi Abiru, who polled 144 against his rival, who scored 80; Abiodun Tobun of Epe 1 and Yishawu Gbolahan of Eti Osa 2, who literally did not face any challenge in the exercise.

Also, the incumbent lawmaker from Amuwo Odofin 1, Sultan Adeniji-Adele, won in his constituency while his counterpart from Apapa constituency, Olumuyiwa Jimoh, defeated his opponent with 181 votes to six.

Others were Adefunmilayo Tejuoso representing Mushin 1; Saka Fafunmi (Ifako Ijaiye 1); Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 2); Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho 1); the spokesman of the assembly, Segun Olulade (Epe 2 constituency); Abdulbaq Ladi Balogun (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 2) and Omotayo Oduntan (Alimosho 2).

11 gov aspirants kick over primaries
Eleven of the governorship aspirants of APC in Lagos State have written to the national leadership of the party, demanding the adoption of direct primaries to elect the standard-bearer.

Their demand was contained in a letter dated December 1, 2014, written to the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, with a copy sent to the APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu; national legal adviser, national secretary, national organising secretary and the state chairman of the party.

The contestants opposed the use of indirect delegate-based primaries, which they claimed was capable of throwing the APC into crisis .

Those at the meeting and signatories to the letter were Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Mrs Adetokunbo Tobun-Agbesanwa, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Dr Leke Pitan, Olasupo Sasore, Tokunbo Wahab, Dr Tola Kasali, Kunle Disu, Tayo Ayinde and Honourable Lanre Ope.

APC presidential primaries: Atiku, Kwankwaso kick against Lagos venue
FORMER Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State have kicked against the choice of venue for the APC presidential primaries, slated to hold on Dec 10.

A document signed by both aspirants and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Tuesday, stated that the relocation of the primaries was not convenient.

“Our party has paid for the Eagle Square for December 7, 8, 10 and 11.

“This will enable our party to maximally harvest the fallout of PDP National Assembly primaries, since we have nothing to harvest from the PDP presidential primaries, as they have only one candidate.

“The proposed venue of Lagos is not convenient for all; we, therefore, advise that our party reverts to Abuja as the venue,” the document read.

NAN gathered that there had been disagreements on the choice of venue between Abuja and Lagos and the party recently chose Benin City as a neutral ground for the presidential primaries.

9 lawmakers grab APC ticket in Edo
By Banji Aluko - Benin City

ONLY one out of the 10 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers who signified interest in returning to the state House of Assembly lost in the primaries conducted on Tuesday.

Four of the APC lawmakers in the assembly had signified interest to contest election into the House of Representatives, while Honourable Peter Aliu died last month.

Some of the winners were Sunday Osazemwinde (Ovia North East constituency I), Bright Osayande (Ovia North East Constituency II), Mrs Elizabeth Ativie (Uhumnwonde constituency), Nosa Osazuwa (Orhiomwon East), Chris Okaeben (Oredo West), Folly Ogedengbe (Owan East) and Osaigbovo Iyoha (Oredo East).

One of the APC lawmakers, Bamidele Oloruntoba (Akoko-Edo I) was said to have lost to another asiprant, Emmanuel Agbaje.

Though it was observed that the primaries was conducted in all the constituencies, it was learnt that the deal to return majority of the lawmakers had been sealed on Monday, after a marathon meeting between Governor Adams Oshiomhole, leaders of the party in the state and the aspirants.

13 pro-Amosun lawmakers win in Ogun
By Olayinka olukoya-Abeokuta

THIRTEEN serving members of the Ogun State House of Assembly who are loyal to Governor Ibikunle Amosun won the party’s primaries on Tuesday, as the party’s candidates in the 2015 elections.

Their emergence was characterised with allegations of imposition of the lawmakers by the party’s leadership, as against the wishes of the delegates.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that various meetings were held prior to the primaries, as some aspirants were opposed to imposition, insisting on election to ensure the emergence of popular candidates.

It was gathered that Amosun had appealed to some of the aspirants contesting against the lawmakers to step down, describing the lawmakers as the pillars of support for his administration.

At a meeting held on Monday night till the early hours of Tuesday at the MITROS Hall, in Ibara area of the state capital, a reliable source told the Nigerian Tribune that Governor Amosun prevailed on the aspirants who insisted to give the lawmakers automatic tickets.

However, it was also gathered that Governor Amosun had told the aspirants that there would be primaries in a situation whereby there was no agreement.

There was palpable tension at the Akin Olugbade Social Centre, venue of the Abeokuta North Local Governmen, as delegates insisted on primaries as against imposition of the lawmaker representing the constituency, Honourable Olayiwola Ojodu.

The  members said the imposition of Ojodu could mar the chances of the party in the elections.

Mr Liadi Fashakin, a member of the party, said “we want a representative that will not be too far from his people and we know the best person that will represent our interest at the Ogun House of Assembly. So, they should just allow us to elect our choice candidate.”

Oyo APC elects candidates for House of Assembly contest
By Nurudeen Alimi

CANDIDATES that will hoist the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 state House of Assembly election in Oyo State have emerged.

The party primaries, held across the state on Tuesday, produced candidates from the 32 constituencies under the supervision of Honourable Lumumba Ade-led congress committee from the party’s national headquarters, in collaboration with the state executive team.

Nigerian Tribune findings, however, revealed that no violence was recorded before, during and after the exercise, as aspirants and their supporters conducted themselves in an orderly manner.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the Oyo State All progressive Congress (APC), signed by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the party lauded its members for the peaceful conduct of the primaries.

The party assured the public of its commitment to the sustenance of peace in the state and also warned those planning to re-introduce violence, lawlessness and impunity to have a rethink.

SOURCE: TRIBUNE