Amuwo Odofin LG Primary: Residents Petition Against Lagos APC Chairman, LASIEC Over Imposition Of Candidate

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The last may not have been heard over the purported substitution of the eventual winner of the Chairmanship Primary of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area in Lagos State, Hon Dipo Oloruniru with Engr. Valentine Buraimoh by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress and LASIEC in the State.

P M.EXPRESS reports that the stakeholders have written a petition against the APC Caretaker Chairman, Otunba Tunde Balogun and LASIEC, the electoral body in the state to the National Caretaker Chairman and his executives over their conduct in the just concluded LG Primary and called for intervention.

In the petition sighted by P.M.EXPRESS and signed by one Kemi Shittu, it stated as follows:
 The National Chairman,
APC National Secretariat,
40 Blantyre Crescent, 
Wuse 2, Abuja.
Dear Sir, 
PETITION AGAINST THE UNDEMOCRATIC ACT OF THE STATE PARTY CARETAKER CHAIRMAN AND LASIEC TO SUBSTITUTE THE DULY ELECTED CHAIRMANSHIP CANDIDATE IN AMUWO-ODOFIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Asalam Alaykum Waramatullahi Wabarakatuhu!! (May the peace of Allah be unto you)

There is never a more perfect time to write this petition than on a Democracy Day. Happy Democracy Day my Leader! I humbly implore you to be as democratic as possible on the issue at hand.

You will please recall that the Local Government Primary Elections of our great party the All Progressive Congress (APC) was held on 29th of May, 2021.

You will also recall that our amiable National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had pleaded with the local leaders to let democracy flourish at the grassroots. Even though he (Asiwaju) supported a consensus candidate, it was definitely not in a scenario where twelve (12) aspirants including the daughter of the chairperson to the local apex leaders body had purchased the nomination form. 

On Saturday 29th May 2021, the Primary election was going on peacefully until the incumbent Chairman, Engr. Valentine Buraimoh, led gun wielding thugs to some polling centres (Ward K precisely) shot sporadically in the air to disperse the crowd and carted away the ballot boxes. (I attached video clips for your perusal). 

Consequently, on Friday 4th June, 2021, the State Chapter published names of the successful Chairmanship aspirants in the disrupted primary process and it was no surprise that the peoples preferred candidate, Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu, was published as the party’s flag bearer in the upcoming July 24th Local Government Elections. These publications can be found in The Nations Newspaper (Page 6), Vanguard Newspaper and Guardian Newspaper all on the 4th June, 2021 (I attached evidences for your perusal).

Sir, let me reiterate that Amuwo-Odofin LGA has always been a strong hold of the opposition party (PDP). As a matter of fact, the Federal House of Representatives Member representing Amuwo-Odofin LGA is from the opposition party, PDP. He is in his 2nd tenure in office too.

It is also imperative to note that the winner of the LGA primaries as duly published in the newspapers, Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu, had defeated our party in 2015 for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat. He was the only opposition member in the Lagos State 8th House of Assembly between 2015 – 2019. He joined our great party in 2019. He is the bridge builder between the Yorubas, the Arewas, the youths and the industrious igbos, who have a huge number in the LGA. Their influence made him win in 2015 and at the Chairmanship primaries held on 29th May, 2021.

It is also pertinent to note that since the publication on 4th of June, 2021. The incumbent Chairman, Engr. Valentine Buraimoh, has been seen running helter-skelter in a bid to bribe the State Party Caretaker Chairman, Secretary and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) in order to substitute Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu’s name after it has been duly signed and published in the newspaper. 

Sir, this is injustice before God and humanity. The peoples Divine mandate is about to be stolen right before their very eyes in 2021? We supporters of Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu wish to know why our candidate would be substituted after he was declared winner publicly. We are party stakeholders at the grassroots level and will not hesitate to divert our unflinching support for the party over the years to the opposition come 2023 if our Divine mandate is truly substituted. 

In conclusion Sir, please note that Engr. Valentine Buraimoh was not the only incumbent who lost the primaries. His counterparts in Apapa LGA, Epe LGA, Eredo LCDA, Ikosi Ejirin LCDA also lost and accepted their fate. We party faithfuls want to know his desperation to return after it is clear he is not wanted by the core grassroots. 

Please come to our aid and let justice prevail, I pray Allah (SWT) in his infinite mercies give you the wisdom to iron out this issue as it is a dent on our democracy and a huge mistake in our preparations for the 2023 General Elections. 
Thank you as we await your favourable response to our pleas” the petition ended.