The Police Command in Lagos State has apprehended 10 suspects over the violence that erupted at the All Progressives Congress, APC, primaries election at Egbe in the Alimosho area of the state.
The incident, which occurred on Onilewura Street, Liasu Road, on Saturday, caused panic among party members and residents as hoodlums stormed the venue, shooting sporadically and disrupting the process, forcing voters and party officials to flee for safety.
Several party members sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident.
The suspects also took advantage of the chaos to rob residents and participants of their mobile phones and other valuables.
Confirming the incident, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Femi Adeoye, said no life was lost during the attack, contrary to rumours circulating in some quarters.
He said the suspects linked to the chaos had been taken to the Ikotun Divisional Police Station for further investigation.
According to him, one locally made gun was recovered from the suspects during the operation.
“The hoodlums responsible for the disturbance have been arrested and taken to Ikotun Divisional Police Station. A gun was also recovered from them,” he said.
Adeoye assured residents and party supporters that investigations would be carried out fully to determine the sponsors of the suspects and their motive, promising perpetrators would be made to face the wrath of the law.
He also urged residents to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could assist ongoing investigations.
The Oyo State All Progressives Congress House of Representatives Primaries Committee has described the party’s primaries in the state as peaceful and transparent.
Also Read: Fubara restates loyalty to APC, slams defection rumours
The committee Chairman, Prof. Mojeed Alabi, stated this at a news conference held at the party secretariat in Ibadan on Saturday.
He said the committee’s mandate was to superintend the conduct of the primaries across all wards in the 14 federal constituencies representing Oyo State in the House of Representatives.
Alabi further stressed that the committee’s role was not to directly conduct the congresses at the ward level, but to oversee the process and ensure it followed due process.
He said the committee was committed to discharging its duty faithfully and leaving a legacy of service to the party and the country in the era of renewed hope.
According to him, members of the committee arrived in the state as early as 12.00 a.m. to monitor proceedings across the constituencies.
Alabi, and a former speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, said the team moved around to ensure the conduct was orderly and free of rancour among party members.
Alabi noted that the committee’s report would be transmitted to the National Executives of the APC, which holds the final authority to declare the results.
He added that the committee was conscious of being monitored by another supervisory body, the Primary Elections Monitoring Committee, which made it imperative to uphold transparency and accountability.
“This committee will ensure fairness to all aspirants without fear or favour, affection or ill, so that the outcome will reflect credibility.
“We are working within available resources and logistics to maintain openness throughout the process,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that 74 aspirants were initially cleared to participate in the primaries for the 14 federal constituencies in Oyo State.
He, however, added that five senatorial aspirants were cleared, while seven others were not cleared to contest.
He urged dissatisfied aspirants to channel their grievances to the Primary Elections Appeal Committee, set up to address complaints arising from the primaries.
He said the appeal mechanism was in place to ensure that all issues were resolved fairly.
Alabi expressed confidence that at the end of the exercise, the committee would have satisfactorily upheld its mandate.
In addition, he said that the committee would have recorded the process in a manner that would stand as a reference for good conduct within the party.
Earlier, the APC Chairman in Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo, expressed confidence in the committee, noting that its members were people with credible integrity and good antecedents.
He also urged the election monitoring group from the party’s headquarters to do their job as required to ensure that the final results reflect the people’s interests.
At the Festac Town, Lagos, Moses Olanrewaju emerged the House of Representatives candidate at the Community Field, 112 Road, F Close, Festac Town, Lagos.
Accreditation started late after electoral officials arrived at about 1:50 p.m. Many voters appeared disgruntled as the process moved slowly.
APC Electoral Official, Mr Tayo Adebimbo, blamed the delay on logistics constraints and late submission of acknowledgement letters by some party agents.
“We expect the entire process to be peaceful,” Adebimbo said.
Mr Afeez Oloye, a Member of Ramotalai’s media team, said accreditation had not started earlier because officials were absent.
Security operatives maintained heavy presence throughout the exercise. The process remained peaceful, with no violence or conflict reported.
Voters stood in three queues for the aspirants. Officials counted each queue openly at the venue.
INEC official, Mrs Tina Obiageri Andrew, monitored the exercise.
Returning Officer, Mr Fadairo Olawunmi, announced three votes for Ayodele Adewale, 15 votes for Ramotalai Akinlola-Hassan, and 380 votes for Moses Olanrewaju
Olawunmi declared Olanrewaju winner of the primaries.
Councillor Egobi Daniel Osagie of Ward K, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, urged members to remain united during the exercise.
“We are all one big family. The best candidate should win,” Osagie said.
“There is no war, and there is no fight. Whoever wins will become our flag bearer,” he added.
The turnout remained large throughout the exercise.
A DJ played music while food and drink vendors attended to party members.
NAN
