APC members protest imposition of candidates by party leaders

Members of the All Progressive congress (APC) in Eti-Osa constituency 1 have kicked against the imposition of candidates for the September 16 by-election in ward E of the consistency by the party leaders.

The aggrieved members who staged a protest to express their displeasure against the alleged plan of some party leaders to impose candidates on them yesterday were at the palace of Oba Tijani Akinloye Ojomu to agitate for a free and fair election for contestants in the party without any interference.
In July, the Honourable representing Eti-Osa constituency 1, Honourable Kazeem Alimi popularly known as Kadeso was said to have died just two weeks after his 50th birthday and the constutency have decided to replace him with his younger brother, Taofeek Ayinla Alimi for continuity.

The Oba however acknowledged their request and support to replace the younger brother of the late Honourable while he expressed disappointment in some party members who had written to his office just three days after the death of Kadeso requesting to replace him.
He then urged them to maintain peace while making their request known. The Oba also promised to convey their request to the Eti-Osa leaders and APC party leaders.

The protesters also visited the APC Secretariat in Eti-Osa where they met with the party chieftains which include the former Eti-Osa East local government chairman, Issa Owolabi who has also been alleged to have been paid the sum of N5m from a candidate to be imposed on them.
One of the party leaders, Alh Ali who addressed the party members asked them to be calm.
“We assured you that justices will be done in selecting the candidate and the process is going to be free and fair.”

The protesters also made a stop at APC secretarial at Sagotedo where they met some party leaders like Alh Ali, Akinjagunla and former Eti-Osa East local government chairman, Issa Owolabi and they express their grievances. They also alleged the former chairman, Owolabi of collecting five Million naira bribe from a candidate to be imposed on them.
One of the party leaders present, Alh Ali addressed the party members to be calm, assuring then that justices will be done in selecting the candidate and the election is going to be free and fair.

One of the party members, Tope Bashir who spoke with our correspondent said they decided to staged the protest when they observed candidates from other wards were also clamoring for the position of the Honorable which has been zoned to Ward E in Eti-Osa.
“We are calling on the party leaders and our national leaders particularly Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by allowing the position to remain in Eti-Osa East ward E and ensure that we had free and fair primary election within the contestants from that ward.’