Lagos APC Primary: Heavy security as Sanwo-Olu face off with Oluwo, Mustapha
The All Progressives Congress (APC) congress to elect the party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 elections is underway amidst tight security in Lagos.
Security operatives mounted heavy presence at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly known as Onikan Stadium on Lagos Island, venue of the special congress.
The security personnel were strategically positioned at various entrances and within the premises of the venue.
Several patrol vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carrier were also stationed at the access roads leading to the venue.
Some of the security agencies personnel at the venue included the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Police Bomb Squad and Private Security.
The special state congress had started with accreditation of ad hoc delegates from the 20 Local Government Areas of the state as at the time of filing this report.
Members of the electoral committee for the primary were around and delegates were moving around, expecting the voting to begin.
Speaking to NAN, Ademola Sadiq, the Chairman of the Accreditation Sub-Committee for the Governorship Primary Support Committee, said that he was impressed by the peaceful and smooth accreditation ahead of the election.
“The accreditation has been so well organised and some local government ad hoc delegates are only expecting two or delegates to be completely cleared.
“On the whole we are 1,225 delegates. Hopefully, by my estimation, we have attended to about 800 people so we are expecting just some few lo a government right now.
“In another 20 minutes we should be able to be done with accreditation,” Mr Sadiq said.
He also expressed the hope that the exercise would be successful.
“I am expecting outstanding success in the primaries. We are lucky because the number of delegates have been pruned down because of the non-signing of the Electoral Act amendment (by President Buhari Muhammadu).
“We just have 1225, so within two hours, all of them should be able to vote and we disperse,” the chairman said.
Incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is jostling for the party’s ticket alongside two other aspirants namely: Wale Oluwo, a former commissioner and ally to former governor Akinwunmi Ambode; and AbdulAhmed Mustapha, a former permanent secretary.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Opinion
Chido Onumah: 2023 elections and the road less travelled
They tell us that Nigeria is a cauldron of repressed rage fuelled by overt injustice, and, to keep it together, we must heed the bellowing orchestra of minorities.
Politics
INEC materials no longer safe in CBN vaults; Emefiele must go: Falana
Mr Falana said Mr Emefiele’s continued stay in office as CBN governor could erode and compromise the credibility of the 2023 general elections.
States
Ogun governor arrested for fraud in U.S. declared winner of APC guber primary
Electoral committee chair Wale Ohu said Mr Abiodun scored 1,168 votes while other aspirants had nil.
Education
Zamfara students to write WAEC, NECO exams: Deputy Governor
The deputy governor said arrangement for the payment of the examination fees and negotiations on how the students will write the 2022 WAEC was ongoing.
NationWide
Buhari travels to Equatorial Guinea for three-day AU summit
The summit would focus on security.
Politics
Lagos APC disqualifies, drives away Sanwo-Olu’s two rivals from governorship primaries
Mr Yuguda said: “We are aware that three aspirants bought forms for Lagos state. Three accredited for the screening. One was cleared, two were not cleared.”
