Posted by By Akinloye Adelusi on
The political crisis in Action Congress (AC) in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, escalated last weekend, with the rejection of the three nominees sent to the state's party secretariat to serve on the electoral committee in the forthcoming primary election.
The political crisis in Action Congress (AC) in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, escalated last weekend, with the rejection of the three nominees sent to the state's party secretariat to serve on the electoral committee in the forthcoming primary election.
Among the three nominees rejected by the majority members of the party in a peaceful protest staged at the local government party secretariat, was the former Special Adviser on Education under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's administration, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Elder Ajide Sunday and Alhaji A. Adaranijo.
Prof. Samuel and Elder Ajide were rejected on the grounds that they are members of a campaign organisation of one of the chairmanship aspirants in the council area, Alhaji Jubril Kareem, favoured by the local government party executives against the wish of the majority members of the party.
The protesters pointed out that if the nominees were allowed to supervise the primary election, they would be biased against the wish of the majority members of the party.
They also accused the party's chairman in the council area, Alhaji Ayoni Shittu, and his executives of bribery and favouritism, adding that, 'they have been doing everything possible to impose him on the people of Agege.'
Addressing party executives in the LGA, spokesperson for the protesters, Mr. Abiodun Adewuyi, said majority members have resolved to oppose the imposition of any aspirant on them as the party's candidate in the forthcoming election, saying 'all the aspirants should be allowed to test their popularity at the primary election and that not until they all have gone through the primaries, no result of handpicked candidates will be acceptable to us.'
In his response, Alhaji Shittu said there was no element of truth in the allegations against him, saying 'we have not sent any list of candidates to the state secretariat for adoption and that all the chairmanship aspirants will go for the primary election while any ward that could not reach a compromise for the selection of councillorship candidates will also face the primary election.'
He, however, bowed to the wish of the protesters over the withdrawal of Prof. Tunde Samuel and the two others earlier nominated to serve on the electoral committee.