INSIDE STORY: APC IKORODU CONSTITUENCY II ASSEMBLY PRIMARY ELECTION AFTERMATHS
By Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Incumbent LAHA Member Ikorodu Constituency 2, Hon NS Solaja (Aspirant) Ikorodu Constituency 2; Electoral officer (middle) and Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA) and in black face cap (Aspirant) during the APC House of Assembly Primary Election for Ikorodu Constituency 2.
The palpable tension which enveloped Ikorodu constituency II House of Assembly primary election seemed to have phased out, but the outcome on who truly emerged winner has thrown the entire constituency into confusion.
Accreditation of delegates, agents and aspirants which did not start until 2.25pm was preceded by mild protest, which resulted into preventing the three (3) Ikorodu Constituency II council chairmen vis a vis Bldr. Daini Olusesan of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Mrs Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba of Ijede LCDA, and Hon. Wasiu Agoro of Imota LCDA from the election hall, after initially forcing their way in.
Having been perceived as arch-backers of one of the major contenders, Mr Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA) against the incumbent, Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja, the ruling party members majorly from Igbogbo and Imota stood their ground that aside submitting the list of delegates brought to the venue as allegedly instructed by the party, no council chairman be allowed entry into the voting point area since they are statutorily banned by electoral act from participating or playing active roles within the precinct of voting point.
The melodrama of Ikorodu Constituency II assembly election hit the climax when the electoral officers chased all the forty(40) delegates out after casting their votes.
The election which enjoyed a peaceful atmosphere detailed with heavy security presence led by Mr. Remi Balogun, DPO Ikorodu Police Headquarters came to a violent-free conclusion at exactly 3.45pm.
When approached by journalists and enthusiastic party members on the outcome of the election, all the aspirants revealed and acknowledged that the ballot papers were sorted in their presence and all of them were aware of the number of votes counted and void votes.
Hon. NS Solaja who was seen stepping out in his dark blue Toyota car SUV was greeted with wide jubilation having polled 23votes to beat his major contender, Aro Moshood Abiodun(AMA) who polled 16, with one(1) void vote count.
It was later announced by the electoral officers that the votes earlier sorted in the presence of the aspirants and delegates will be officially announced and recorded by the State party Secretariat.
Immediately, the curious party faithfuls embarked on a hot chase after the electoral officers’ van to Ita-Elewa Mini-Stadium (collation Centre for Ikorodu division) election venue for the House of Representatives aspirants.
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with pressmen before Hon. NS Solaja the current ranking member representing Ikorodu constituency II in the Lagos state house of assembly left the venue, he described the voting as free and fair and appreciated the delegates for renewing his mandate, emphasizing that the ultimate winner in the just concluded election is Ikorodu constituency 2 people.
“Our people have spoken overwhelmingly and surely that loud voice is the voice of God. We won with 23votes against 16votes polled by AMA with 1 void.
“But the instruction of the party on vote counting, filling of result sheet and official announcement must be strictly adhere to, which would be communicated in due time” Solaja explained.
In a release made available to Trekafrica. At night of the election (Friday) at about 10.30pm when Hon. Solaja was still awaiting response from the State party as instructed, a whistleblower put a call through to Hon. NS Solaja disclosing that the election result had been manipulated in favour of AMA to the tune of 20 votes- 18votes count for Hon NS Solaja with 2void votes and was being submitted for consideration.
The Chairman Public Accounts Committee immediately hit the ground running to Acme, to question the Electoral officer team lead but absconded.
Several official phone calls by member of the APC State Exco placed to the run-away officer were unsuccessful till close of business on Tuesday.
On Saturday May 28th, 2022 at about 11am, the entire Ikorodu division woke up to a fake fully signed recorded result sheet prepared by AMA’s camp after getting wind of the news that the fake manipulated result had been leaked.
AMA’s camp who counted their chickens before they were hatched came under heavy backlash for sharing result unofficially announced by the party.
As a result, political camp of Hon Solaja responded with issue-based questions querying the veracity and status of the result. As at the time of filing this report the AMA group are yet to respond to the fraudulent allegations leveled against them.
Information from the grapevine had it that the antagonism against NS Solaja’s 3rd term bid was home-grown by high-powered politicians who wanted Solaja, a potential ranking principal officer schemed out for another assembly member outside Ikorodu division powerfully supported by another heavyweight politician in another local government.
A petition according to the Camp of Hon Solaja had been filed and submitted to the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Assembly Appeal Committee on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 challenging the alleged fake result which Hon. NS Solaja described as Kangaroo.
As at the time of filing this report, the petition had been acknowledged and considered, while the Camp of the incumbent Member awaits the Appeal’s report and final decision of the party.
