By Akinwale Kasali
Finger Honourable Jimoh as mastermind of electoral manipulation
Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have expressed their displeasure over what it termed irregularities, intimidation, manipulation, electoral violence and abuse of office by Hon. Olawale Jimoh Saliu, the Executive Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, at the APC Primaries held in Lagos.
The Group has petitioned the APC Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, registering their dissatisfaction over the conduct of the APC primary election held in Apapa Constituency II, which they alleged was grossly marred by violence, intimidation, manipulation, and several acts which undermine the integrity and democratic principles of our great party.
They stated that what ought to have been a transparent, peaceful, and credible primary election was instead reduced to a coordinated exercise of electoral subversion orchestrated by desperate political actors determined to impose a predetermined outcome against the wishes of genuine party members.
They fingered Hon. Jimoh Olawale Saliu, alongside other political actors, and they alleged recruited thugs, who unleashed terror on party loyalists and supporters perceived to be opposed to their interests after it became obvious that the exercise was not yielding results favourable to them.
It was alleged that throughout the exercise, several party members with genuine membership cards were subjected to intimidation, harassment, and physical attacks across various voting locations, thereby preventing them from freely exercising their democratic rights.
Rilwan Azeez, a Party member stated that in many areas identified as perceived strongholds of opposition within the party, voters were chased away with stones and other dangerous weapons and denied access to participate in the process.
It was also gathered from eyewitnesses and sources in the LCDA, who alleged that thugs and non-party elements were mobilised with questionable and irregular membership cards to participate in the exercise, thereby disrupting the election process, and intimidated genuine APC members in Apapa Constituency II.
These actions, it was gathered, created widespread fear, tension, and chaos during the exercise and were met with strong resistance from genuine party members.
In Ward A, it was alleged that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had initially resisted the use of such cards and left the venue in protest and annoyance.
However, after an absence of over two hours, the officials returned and attempted to proceed with the exercise using the same disputed membership cards merely by sighting and waving the cards without proper verification.
This denied genuine party members the opportunity to exercise their franchise.
Party members were said to have resisted this irregular process, resulting in the inability of the election to hold in the ward.
In addition, there were serious incidents concerning the compromise and improper movement of electoral officials.
It was alleged in Ward A that one Ade Melody, an aide to the Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, accompanied and transported INEC officials to unknown destinations during the exercise, thereby compromising the neutrality, transparency, and credibility expected of the electoral process.
Fake and fabricated election results were subsequently written and announced despite the widespread irregularities, violence, voter intimidation, and disruptions recorded across several polling locations within the constituency.
The aggrieved members said that such actions collectively amount to a complete violation of the democratic ideals, electoral guidelines, and internal democratic principles of the party and have seriously damaged the credibility and legitimacy of the entire primary election process in Apapa Constituency II.
The Group demanded the immediate cancellation of the purported results announced for the APC primary election in Apapa Constituency II.
It also demanded for a thorough investigation into voter intimidation, violence, manipulation of voter accreditation, importation of non-party members and voters from Ifelodun Local Government, and falsification of election results.
It also stressed that a full investigation into the role played by political office holders and individuals who sponsored violence, thuggery, and electoral misconduct during the exercise, and that apropriate disciplinary sanctions should be taken against all persons found culpable in the manipulation and disruption of the primary election process.
It, also, demanded that a fresh, transparent, peaceful, credible, and heavily secured primary election that will truly reflect the wishes and mandate of genuine APC members in Apapa Constituency II should be held.
