The Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, described the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly primary election in Surulere Constituency I, Lagos State, as peaceful, fair, and orderly.
This occurred after the constituency’s incumbent congressman, Desmond Elliott, withdrew from the race, alleging alleged intimidation of his supporters.
Gbajabiamila spoke with journalists after voting in the primary election for Ward G2 (Adeniran Ogunsanya Ward 5), which is located in Alaka Housing Estate in Surulere, Lagos.
The previous Speaker of the House of Representatives expressed his admiration for party members’ conduct and the pleasant mood that pervaded 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 mentioned 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 Chief of Staff 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.
Elliott, however, announced his withdrawal at the Paddington Mini Stadium on Western Avenue, where the party’s primary was being held.
The actor-turned-politician stated that he made multiple requests to the electoral officers to allow his supporters entrance to the voting place, but his demands were denied.
“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 followers had a peaceful demonstration and gradually fled the arena with him.
Despite this, Mr. Ekundayo Decker, Chairman of the Leaders Forum in Ward G2, lauded the exercise as an example of good internal democracy within the APC.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria at the location, Decker stated that the process was carried out smoothly with no violence or interruption.
“Well, this is a pure democratic process. We have seen that the numbers are higher and the voting went fine.
“There was no fight, there was nothing, no problem, nothing,” he said.
Speaking 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.
