The ongoing All Progressive Congress (APC) local council primaries across Lagos state has turned to a drama in Ward B of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) when the Ward chairman, Mr M.O. Arowolo disappeared after allegedly collected the sum of N3 million from one of the aspirants and shared it with few members of the ward executives.
Hell was let loose when members of the party who had been waiting for the primary since 8am discovered to their surprised that by 1pm nobody was on ground to inform them on the situation of things.
PM Express gathered that the chairman, Arowolo with his vice, Tayo Adeleke had allegedly collected the sum of N3 million from Hon. Teju Oluwole Olaoye in a bid to impose him on the members of the ward.
Part of the strategies employed by the chairman to cover his ploy was to bring him some cameramen to record the scene at the venue of the election, Atinuke Dosumu, Puposola in Abule Egba in order send a message that the election actually took place.
Some vigilant members of the ward have to call the attention of other aspirants who raised an alarm that attracted people including the policemen and Lagos state neighbourhood task force on ground.
Other aspirants, Hon Adetipe Adewole, Hon Azeez Osho, Hon Femi Faboyede, Hon Olawale Jamiu. Hon Tunde Bisiriyu, Hon Dele Ogundele and Hon Kemi Awakan were all in the dark about what happened.
Hon Osho denied ever stepped down for Hon Teju, adding that if he were to step down he won’t bother mobilising his supporters for the election.
“No election ever held today, we will resist any attempt for the chairman to impose Teju on us because of money,” Osho vowed.
One of the leaders in the ward. Pa Nureni Okewale described the action of the chairman as a disgraced to APC and democracy. He said there was no election in Ward B.
Even the policemen testified that no election took place. One of the policemen who preferred anonymity said they have been looking for the chairman and nobody conducted election in the ward.
Public Relations Officer of the ward, Mr Leke Onakoya told PM Express that anything that happened behind the venue of the primary was not official, adding that he was not authorised to speak for the chairman. He however assured the people that electoral officers from the state will soon be around to conduct the election.
One of the watd executives who didn’t want his name in print confided in PM Express that the chairman, Arowolo was noy alone in the ploy. He revealed that the LCDA party chairman was in the known, adding that the plan was to impose Hon Teju on the people and tell the world later that they held an election.
“What they planned to do was to let tge people to be frustrated and left the venue after which they will call for the election,” he said.
