By Leke Adeseri, S-West Regional Editor, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Gbenga Oke

LAGOS—As at 8.30 pm Thursday night, voting was still ongoing at the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos governorship primaries, with the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu charging aspirants to accept outcome of the primaries.

Bola Tinubu arriving yesterday

The Chairman of the Committee, Peter Obadan, former deputy governor of Edo State, while welcoming the delegates before the voting started, assured that all arrangements had been concluded to ensure a free and fair exercise.

He threatened that he would not hesitate to cancel the exercise if any untoward action took place, saying;  “We look forward to Lagos State as a model for democracy.”

Voting by delegates

Voting started around 2.20pm and will not end until each of the 6,200 delegates has voted and this may drag on to around midnight.

Epe delegates were the first to cast their votes. There were 291 accredited delegates, Badagry was next with 313 accredited delegates. Eight delegates failed to cast their votes. Ikorodu was 498, Ibeju Lekki, 189, Ojo 252 delegates with 15 abstaining and Agege193 delegates. The total number of delegates is 6,200. The exercise was peaceful free and fair

As at 5:41pm, only delegates from six local governments – Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki, Ojo and Agege- out of the 20 Local Governments of the State have voted.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu charged all the 12 aspirants to accept the result of the primaries

His speech was read by the Lagos Publicity Secretary of the party, Joe Igbokwe. He said over 6,000 delegates had gathered to choose a governorship candidate among the 12 aspirants, saying the event marked the beginning of the march for democracy.

Tinubu reminded them that only one of them would emerge winner at the end of the day, saying that all of you are qualified but only one of you will win. We must join hands together to ensure the party wins at the general election. The way you conduct yourself will determine how Lagos State presents itself. All of you should comport yourselves and accept the result of the primaries as the choice of the party,” he said, adding that the party had worked tirelessly to make “today possible.”

The former governor said the enemies of the party were waiting to see if the APC would fail, warning the aspirants not to destroy the party.

At the primaries held at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island over 6, 000 delegates showed up to cast their votes for the aspirants of their choices. Security at the venue of the event was very tight as over 200 policemen led by the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti provided security at the event.

Anti-bomb experts

Anti-bomb experts ensured that people were thoroughly screened before allowed access to the stadium for the event.

Governorship aspirants at the venue were Olasupo Shasore, Senator Ganiu Solomon, Dr Leke Pitan, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Dr Kadri Hamzat, Lanre Ope, Dr Tola Kasali, Abayomi Sutton, Tokunbo-Agbesanwa, Tokunbo Wahab, Tayo Ayinde and Akinwunmi Ambode.

Tinubu, Fashola absent

Governor Babatunde Fashola and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu were not at the event. Other APC leaders at the venue are Chief Henry Ajomale, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, Olufemi Pedro, Gbenga Ashafa, Abiodun Ogunleye, Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Yakub Balogun and several others.

The event started around 1.30pm with opening prayer by both Muslim and Christian clerics.

Ajomale tasks aspirants

Earlier, Henry Ajomale, Chairman, APC, Lagos State, charged the aspirants to maintain decorum.

“Only one of you will emerge among 12 of you. You are all respected leaders of the party, but remember that only one of you will emerge. There is no winner, no vanquished, you are from the same family. Whatever result we have today, know that it is not a do or die affair. Let the battle begin,” he said.

Ajomale used the opportunity to debunk claims that he sent text messages to delegates to vote for a particular aspirant, saying the text messages did not emanate from him.

“I did not send text messages or tell anybody to vote for a certain aspirant, all the delegates are mine, vote according to your conscience, I denounce that text message openly here,” he said.

Ajomale described the bulk text messages as fraudulent and malicious, saying that he is not associated with the text messages.

He said in the light of the above, he had forfeited his right to vote at the primaries to show that his hands were clean.

 

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