Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, a former minister of state for defence, says he is displeased with the process and eventual outcome of the APC Lagos West Senatorial primaries on Saturday, May 28.
Obanikoro, one of the three aspirants that contested for the party’s ticket, made this known shortly after the exercise was concluded at the Agege Stadium.
Mr Emeka Okafor, APC Electoral Returning Officer who announced the result, said Obanikoro scored 119 votes; while Mrs Idiat Adebule, a former deputy governor of Lagos state, scored 424 votes to emerge winner of the primaries.
Obanikoro, however, rejected the result, saying that the exercise was fraught with intimidations; and other malpractices which he would address with the party in due course.
The former minister reiterated his earlier stand that the acclaimed winner was not even qualified to stand for the election.
“This is because she did not participate in the electoral process of obtaining the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms; nor did she participate in the screening which she did not also submit to.
“Therefore, it is obvious that the exercise was designed to favour the acclaimed winner who was not even qualified to stand for the election,” he said.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adjusted its special convention for the presidential primary earlier scheduled for May 29-30 to June 6-8.
Mr Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, announced this in a statement on Saturday, May 28, in Abuja.
“This follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s extension of the deadline for the submission of the list of candidates by political parties.
“The APC hereby postpones its Special Convention for Presidential Primary; from May 29 to 30 to Monday, June 6 to Wednesday, June 8, 2022,” he said.
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The political parties had earlier requested INEC to review the timelines for political party primaries; provided in the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections.
The parties had requested for a 37 – 60 day extension of the timeline for primaries and the nomination of candidates.
However, INEC was emphatic that the request could not be granted; because it would disrupt other scheduled activities on the timetable, but gave in to it on Friday.
