Conflicting venues delay primaries in Badagry
Returning officers delay voting in Epe
Ogunyemi, Olowu confident of victory in Shomolu
Party chieftain decries delay in election process
Some aspirants of the PDP for Lagos State House of Assembly, on Sunday, expressed confidence in the party’s primaries, despite delay in the arrival of national officers to the venue.
The aspirants, Lawal Akinsemoyin and Bolaji Faniyan, who were both contesting for the PDP’s ticket to represent Lagos Island constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria.
They said the lateness of the national officers charged with conducting the primaries would not in any way, dampen the enthusiasm of the stakeholders and the outcome of the exercise.
Akinsemoyin said he expected the process to go smoothly despite the lateness of the national officers.
He said he was confident in his ability to emerge winner of the primaries, adding that he had put a lot of work in place.
On his part, Faniyan said the delay in the commencement of voting was due to logistics issues on the part of the party.
He noted that all delegates and officials on ground were excited about the primaries, adding that he hoped that the best man would emerge the winner.
“Irrespective of the outcome of the primaries, we are all one family,” Faniyan said.
NAN reports that 27 adhoc delegates from nine wards were seated at the venue of the primaries, Archbishop Soremekun Memorial Hall, Broad Street, awaiting the arrival of electoral officers, as at 12.45 p.m. when this report was filed.
NAN also reports that 140 aspirants are contesting for the PDP tickets for the 40 seats in the Lagos State house of assembly and 85 for the 24 House of Representatives seats.
Conflicting venues delay primaries in Badagry
Conflicting venues for the PDP Lagos State House of Assembly and Representatives primaries in Badagry Constituency 1 has delayed take off of the election.
The News Agency of Nigeria correspondent, who monitored the primaries in Badagry Constituency 1, observed that three venues were selected by the party for the election.
NAN reports that Kappo Hotel, Sango Iledundun, Badagry was the official venue of the election.
However, many delegates of the party had gathered at the hotel before some of their leaders informed them that the party had selected another venue for the election, which was Soketa Hotel, Sowhe.
NAN correspondent who visited the Soketa Hotel venue reports that a few PDP members gathered within the Hotel, waiting for the INEC officials, party officials and election materials.
NAN reports that some party members gathered at the PDP secretariat in Awaawa quarters, Badagry, as uncertainty trailed the primaries.
However, Mrs. Abidemi Akojenu, the Chairman, PDP, Badagry, said the party stakeholders were meeting in Lagos on the venue of the primaries.
“At present, the primaries are on hold, we are waiting for instructions from our leaders in the state to know whether the elections will take place or not,” she said.
NAN also reports that as at 1:00 pm of filing the report, there is no presence of INEC officials to conduct the primaries in the area.
The Police, Nigeria Army from the 243 Recce-Battalion Barracks, Ibereko and 15 Engineering corps, Topo, Badagry and the DSS were seen parading the three venues.
Similarly, the situation in Ikorodu was the same as delegates for the primaries were seen gathered in groups discussing, while others were moving around apparently expecting directives from the party officials.
NAN correspondent in Ikorodu reports that as at 1:20 p.m, there has been no clear directive for the party delegates.
Olamide Lawal, one of the PDP aspirants for Lagos State House of Assembly, commended delegates for their commitment and encouraged them to select the best candidate that would deliver dividends of democracy to their constituents.
Olamide said the delay was due to the fact that the delegates have not received any information from party executives to commence voting, adding that the party was superior in taking decisions.
Olamide expressed gratitude to members for their commitment in ensuring seamless and peaceful primaries to elect the party flag bearers.
“I am sure of victory,” he said.
NAN reports that Independent National Electoral Commission staff arrived at the venue at about 9:03 am while Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agents were at the entrance conducting screening before allowing delegates into the venue.
Returning officers delay voting in Epe
The PDP primaries in Epe division of Lagos State may have been stalled due to the absence of returning officers.
As of the time of filing this report at 12.45 p.m. on Sunday, the News Agency of Nigeria reports that other stakeholders, including aspirants, were anxiously waiting for the officials.
Security officials were also around at Salako Hall in Epe constituency I and ODA in Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Epe constituency II, venues of the primaries.
NAN reports that 140 aspirants are vying for the PDP tickets for the 40 seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly, while 85 are contesting for the 24 seats in the House of Representatives.
Also on the ground for the exercise were the two aspirants contesting for Lagos House of Assembly, Epe Constituency 1, Alebiosu Adewole, and Kenshiro Abiodun.
Okoya Bolaji-Stephen, Wasiu Akingbade-Adesada, and Ayinde Abubakre were the three aspirants contesting for the Epe Constituency II in the Lagos House of Assembly.
Noheem Balogun and Abu Niyas were the two contestants vying for Epe Federal House of Representatives ticket.
Also at the venues were, at least, 20 PDP delegates who had been cleared to vote at the primaries.
Ogunyemi, Olowu confident of victory in Shomolu
Azeez Ogunyemi, a PDP aspirant for Shomolu Constituency II of Lagos State, has expressed confidence in winning the party’s primary election.
Ogunyemi expressed the optimism while speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.
He said: “I am here to contest the house of assembly ticket of the PDP, and I believe at the end, I will emerge the party’s candidate.
“We have two aspirants for Shomolu Constituency II, and based on my interactions with delegates, I will emerge the candidate.”
The aspirant, however, said that if his opponent emerged successful, he would take it as God’s will.
On the commencement of the primary election, he said: “The returning officers have not shown up.
“I don’t have the power to bring them here; any time they arrive, we will definitely commence the election.”
Ogunyemi said that the environment had been peaceful as security operatives were on ground to ensure peace and order.
Also, Bamidele Olowu, an aspirant for Shomolu Federal Constituency, was optimistic that he would emerge victorious in the primary election.
Olowu also said that the party would do its best to emerge victorious in the 2023 general elections.
He said that he had given scholarships to some members of his constituency.
He promised to promote bills that would reduce unemployment.
Party chieftain decries delay in election process
Isaika Shodiya, Chairman, PDP Alimosho Local Government Area, has decried delays in the party’s primaries for the State House of Assembly and Federal House of Representatives elections.
Shodiya told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday that “a mix up on the issue of venue” led to the delay in the election process in Alimosho Constituency One and Two.
According to him, the venue allocated and communicated to party officials is different from what was given to the returning officers.
He said that they were waiting for directive from the state on either to relocate the venue of constituency one to Iyana Ipaja or not.
“That is why I am convening an Executive Council meeting now so that we can resolve this matter,” he said.
NAN reports that party members, delegates, agents and security personnel were on ground as early as 10.00 a.m. at the Alimosho party Secretariat at 183 Akowonjo Road, Sobo Bus stop.
The Constituency 01 party faithful clustered in various groups around the PDP Secretariat and both sides of the Akowonjo Road waiting for the returning officers.
NAN reports that the party chairman, who made a brief stop at the venue earlier in the morning returned at 12:05 p.m. and after addressing the NAN correspondents went into a closed meeting with the executive members of the party.
He had told NAN that the meeting was aimed at resolving issues.
Rising from the meeting at 12:56 p.m. he said that the entire delegates were moving to the new venue.
“The update is that we want to move from this place to 233 Abeokuta Expressway, the new venue. The Department of State Services operatives are already on ground at the new venue,” he said.
