Primaries crisis: Alimosho APC members reject candidates’ list

By Dapo Akinrefon
Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, under the umbrella of the APC Alimosho Federal Constituency Synergy Group, AFCSG, on Thursday, rejected the candidates’ list released by the leadership of the party, insisting that the incumbent lawmaker, Mr Ganiyu Ayuba, won the House of Representatives primary election held on May 16, 2026.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, the Coordinator of the group, Idowu Martins, urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that Ayuba’s mandate is restored.

Martins said Ayuba scored 31,021 votes and was declared winner at the collation centre, while the first runner-up, Olabisi Adebajo, polled 2,739 votes.

He argued that the published candidates’ list did not represent the authentic or officially recognised results of the APC primary election, stressing that only the national leadership of the party in Abuja had the authority to release and announce official primary election results.

According to him, Ayuba remains the preferred choice of APC members in Alimosho Federal Constituency, noting that the constituency was witnessing the emergence of an indigene as its representative in the National Assembly.

He also urged to the Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, not to allow personal interests to override the will of party members.

He added that the group was determined to ensure that the APC remained a formidable force in Alimosho Federal Constituency.

He said: “We want to say clearly that some people have been claiming they are closer to the President than we are, but the President is closer to the people, and we are the grassroots people. We are the ones who will mobilise and vote for the President in the forthcoming 2027 general elections. We appeal to the President to help us reclaim Ayuba’s mandate.

“We are trying to prevent our people from taking to the streets in protest, but if the right thing is not done by restoring Ayuba’s mandate, we will have no choice but to ensure our voices are heard.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Coordinator of the group, Donald Abuegbina, said the party had initially adopted Ayuba as its consensus candidate before directing members to proceed with a direct primary election.

Abuegbina stated that supporters of Ayuba were mobilised across all wards in the constituency and claimed there was video evidence showing the Returning Officer declaring Ayuba winner of the primary election.

He called on the national leadership of the APC to ensure justice prevails and Ayuba’s mandate is restored.

On her part, the Iyaloja of Obadore Kingdom, Folashade Balogun, urged President Tinubu and the APC national leadership to intervene in the matter.

She said the incumbent lawmaker had consistently supported market women through grants and financial assistance.

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