BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI/MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

LAGOS—As the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, commenced primaries to pick candidates for various positions into the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly, aspirants, as well as, party supporters have expressed displeasure with the process in the on-going primaries.

Some of the contestants, who refused to disclose their names to Vanguard complained over the conduct of the primaries which they termed, “a mere jamboree. Some of their grievances were that the primaries lack internal democracy; delegates are not free to vote for their candidates, imposition of candidates by the party leadership, saying that the result of the on-going exercise has already been predetermined.

The party members and supporters stormed the venue as early as 6.30 am across the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, with police having great task controlling the crowd. Newsmen and some council chairmen were manhandled by stern looking anti-riot policemen who stationed their armour personnel carrier at two strategic ends of the area.

As at 5pm yesterday, delegates from only six local governments have voted out of the 57 councils, which mean the result of the primaries may not be known or announced until tomorrow (today).

Wife of the former governor of Lagos, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos central, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Mr. Gbenga Ashafa, Lagos East and Senator Olarenwaju Solomon, Lagos West were to be returned unopposed for the three senatorial districts.

Also contesting are the former Lagos Head of Service, Yakub Balogun, who is contesting to obtain the party’s ticket for the House of Representative in Lagos Island Constituency, Babatunde Adejare for Agege Constituency. He is unopposed. Others in the category are James Faleke and Solomon Adeola. Abike Dabiri Erewa is expected to slug it out with Lanre Balogun for the House of Representatives in the Ikorodu Constituency.

However, the current Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly will now sought the party’s ticket for the House of Assembly under Ikeja Constituency instead of Epe.

The primaries continue today with the gubernatorial primary, though Governor Babatunde Fashola is running unopposed.

Meanwhile, 26 political parties in Lagos State under the aegis of Coalition of Lagos State Opposition Political Parties, COLASOPP, yesterday adopted All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, to contest the governorship elections in the state, saying “we are positioned to win in a clear-cut electoral contest come April 16, 2011.”

It will be recalled that COLASOPP in October 2010, made public their intention to form a strong alliance and contest for all political offices available on the platform of one political party.

COLASOPP which comprised National Conscience Party, NCP, Democratic People’s Party, DPP, Action Party of Nigeria, ANP, and Action Alliance, AA, among others further said the 12-year government of the party in the state “has little to show in spite of enormous revenue at the disposal of the state.”

Speaking at the conference organised to unveil APGA, the convener of the group, Mr. Adebola Dominic said the coalition chose APGA as the preferred platform after extensive deliberation and due consultation with key stakeholders of all the merged political parties.
Dominic said all candidates of the coalition “shall campaign and contest under the name, logo and emblem of the All Progressive Grand Alliance.”

He added “The objective was to dislodge the ACN from the Government of Lagos State in the April 16 governorship elections and other political offices allocated to the state.”

According to him, “ACN has too little to show for its 12 years in government in spite of the enormous revenue and the massive foreign loans it obtained. The ACN is busy squandering tax-payers’ money on media propaganda, lying to the world that the government is performing wonders while residents in the state have nothing, but tales of miseries, impoverishment and woe.”

“The masses are groaning under crushing poverty and are living in slums with no roads, no education, no employment, no portable water, inadequate, perennial flooding and dwindling hope for a better future. The ACN often points to the clearing of Oshodi, the BRT and the planting of grasses and flowers as major achievements. This is a shame for a state like Lagos State,” Dominic said.

The convener of the merged parties also accused the state House of Assembly, which he said was dominated by the ACN, “is as corrupt house as its executive arm. The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Adeyemi Ikuforiji once confirmed that what the legislators are stealing is not as much as that the executive arm of the state government”.

He therefore, called on the people of the state “to rise up against the political forces in the state in order to save the future generation. The April General Elections is the only opportunity we have now. We must start by coming out en masse to register now; and in April cast our votes massively for APGA. Our destiny is our votes”.