Somolu residents protest alleged imposition of APC Reps candidate
Some residents of Somolu/Bariga area of Lagos State on Sunday protested alleged ‘imposition of candidate’ by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Somolu federal constituency against popular choice.
It would be recalled that APC in Lagos held its House of Assembly and House of Representatives primaries on Friday.
The protesters, who walked down major streets in Somolu with placards, insisted that no primary election took place for both the state House of Assembly and the House of Representatives, adding that any attempt to send names of any candidates would amount to imposition which they promised to resist.
Inscription on some of the placards reads; “Somolu says Olowo again 2023”, “Somolu Unites for Olowo Rotimi”, “Gang up or no gang up, Olowo ni o”, “Somolu stands with Olowo 2023”.
One of the party delegates, Malik Olawale, who spoke with journalists during the “walk for Olowo” said: “We were at the local government secretariat to vote as delegates on the supposed day of primary election, but election did not take place. The electoral officer said there was a mixed up in the electoral materials therefore, on that note, the election would not be holding. He then promised to send same report to the concerned authority.
“He also raised issue about the list of delegates. Meanwhile, same list of delegates they had issue with was what they used for senatorial election days after.
“So, it was obvious they didn’t want the primary to hold, they know if we go to the field, our candidate Hon. Rotimi Olowo will beat them. That is why they are afraid of primary.”
Another constituent member, Adebayo Aganga Williams said all they were clamouring for in the interest of peace and harmony in Somolu is that people’s will should be allowed to prevail.
“Our candidate is Hon. Olowo, he is our representative. We want the leadership of the party to respect the wish of the people of Somolu,” Aganga Williams said.
Mrs. Oluremi Doherty from ward D the people are for Olowo because he has done so much in the area by helping the needy, among other interventions.
She said: “We are here to tell the party leadership that Rotimi Olowo is our choice.
“As a widow, I am a beneficiary of his benevolent heart. He has done so much for both the young and old, male and female in Shomolu. We can’t say same of the incumbent House of Reps member. That is why we are saying Olowo should go and represent us at the House of Representatives. He has done it for us at the state assembly level, we know he can do it better
“We are therefore, appealing to the leadership of our party not to subvert the will of Somolu people if they want our party to win this election. Rotimi Olowo is our choice, and we won’t settle for less.”
