House of Representatives aspirant for Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency, Hakeem Animashaun, has called for an independent investigation into the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Lagos Mainland following allegations of widespread irregularities and disruption during the exercise.
Animashaun, who led his supporters on a peaceful protest to the APC state secretariat in ACME, Ogba, submitted a formal petition over what he described as serious electoral malpractices that allegedly marred the primary election.
The aspirant appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the party to intervene in the matter, insisting that the credibility of the process in Lagos Mainland had been compromised.
According to him, party members and supporters initially turned out in large numbers with enthusiasm and confidence in the exercise, but the process later degenerated into confusion and disappointment.
Animashaun alleged that officials who purportedly came to conduct the primary election had no means of identification and arrived at some polling centres without election materials.
He further claimed that the earlier directive requiring party members to present APC membership slips and valid means of identification before accreditation was ignored during the exercise.
The House of Representatives hopeful dissociated himself and his supporters from the alleged irregularities recorded in several wards and demanded a free, fair, and transparent primary election.
Some of his supporters, including Samson Sambakiu, Kolawole Ganiyu, and Folake Ogunlade, accused officials of Lagos Mainland Local Government of allegedly masterminding the irregularities witnessed at various polling centres.
They also alleged that supporters of one of the contenders disrupted parts of the exercise, creating tension and confusion among party members.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Primary Committee, Sheu Yipmong, said the party was monitoring developments surrounding the controversial primaries and would set up an election petition panel to examine grievances raised by aggrieved aspirants.
Seven aspirants, including the incumbent lawmaker, are contesting for the APC ticket for Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency.
