The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday described the All Progressives Congress House of Assembly primary election in Surulere Constituency I, Lagos State, as peaceful, fair and orderly.
This came as the constituency’s incumbent lawmaker, Desmond Elliott, withdrew from the election, citing alleged intimidation of his supporters.
Gbajabiamila spoke with journalists after participating in the primary election at Ward G2 (Adeniran Ogunsanya Ward 5), situated at Alaka Housing Estate, Surulere, Lagos.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives said he was impressed by the conduct of party members and the peaceful atmosphere that characterised the exercise.
“You know, this is my ward, Ward G2, and I have been voting here in Ward G2 for as long as I have been in politics.
“And anytime I come to vote, whatever office or election it is, my reaction is always the same. When I see peaceful, fair, credible, orderly elections, I am always very happy.
“And that is exactly what I have seen today,” he said.
Gbajabiamila noted that the turnout for the exercise was impressive despite the fact that it was a party primary election.
“The turnout, considering that we are talking about primaries here, has been very impressive. People have been peaceful and orderly.
“The election has been free and transparent, and I am happy to see that. So, I congratulate the people of Ward G2,” he said.
The presidential aide added that reports reaching him from other wards indicated that the exercise was peaceful across the constituency.
“From what I am hearing, the feedback I am getting, it is the same across the board,” he said.
However, Elliott announced his withdrawal at the Paddington Mini Stadium on Western Avenue, where the party’s primary was being conducted.
The actor-turned-politician said he made several appeals to the electoral officers to grant his supporters access to the polling venue, but his requests were ignored.
“And of course, in all zones, they’ve been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race. This is my ward. If you go outside, those are my people outside,” he said.
He also alleged that many of his supporters were denied access to the polling venue despite repeated appeals to electoral officials.
“They’ve not been allowed,” Elliott stated shortly before announcing his withdrawal from the contest.
Following the development, his supporters staged a peaceful protest and gradually exited the venue alongside him.
Despite this, the Chairman of the Leaders Forum in Ward G2, Mr Ekundayo Decker, described the exercise as a reflection of good internal democracy within the APC.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria at the venue, Decker said the process was conducted peacefully without any form of violence or disruption.
“Well, this is a pure democratic process. We have seen that the numbers are more and the voting went fine.
“There was no fight, there was nothing, no problem, nothing,” he said.
On his advice to aspirants participating in the primary election, Decker urged contestants and their supporters to embrace sportsmanship and accept the outcome of the process in good faith.
“It is a game of sports. Any side that wins, good. The other side should please embrace the winner,” he said.
NAN reports that Surulere Constituency I was a flashpoint in Wednesday’s APC primaries.
In the constituency, a female aspirant backed by the party and Gbajabiamila, Mrs Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, is contesting the APC ticket with third-term incumbent lawmaker Elliott, who is seeking a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The development follows weeks of friction between the Chief of Staff and Elliot.
NAN
