News
Controversy Trails APC Senators, Reps’ Primaries
Controversy has continued to trail the conduct and results of the National Assembly and state House of Assembly primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos State.
Various aggrieved aspirants have claimed that there was no election held in most areas where APC declared results, while violence was also recorded in most parts, among others illegalities.
The controversy came following the release of results of the rescheduled primaries by Electoral Committee in the state.
The rescheduled primaries were initially slated for last Thursday but were later cancelled due to logistic issues.
Chairman of the committee and a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr Lucky Imasuen, during a media briefing, yesterday, at the party’s Secretariat, Ogba, Ikeja, said the primaries were contested for the three senatorial seats, 24 House of Representatives and 40 state House of Assembly seats.
He described the exercise as peaceful and successful. According to Imasuen, Senenator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the National Leader of APC, Asiwaji Bola Tinubu, polled 89,494 votes unopposed to emerge as candidate for Lagos Central, while, Senator Olamilekan Solomon, representing Lagos West, won with 378,906 votes as against the 1,179 votes polled by Mr Kayode Opeifa and Mrs. Areago Olopade’s1,275 votes.
Imasuen added that a new entrant and a member of the State House of Assembly, Bayo Oshinowo, defeated the incumbent Senator Gbenga Ashafa with 247,743 votes to emerge as new candidate for the Lagos East Senatorial district, saying, Ashafa, polled 20,385 in the primary.
Imasuen said the details of the House of Representatives and state House of Assembly primaries results were ready and would be released later.
While commending the people for good conduct and other stakeholders for supporting the committee in doing its work, he said:”The primaries were peaceful and successful. We thank the state chapter led by Tunde Balogun for the support for the committee. We also thank all other stakeholders including all members of our party in the state for making the conduct a success.”
Ashafa, while rejecting the result by the committee laid claim to victory at the recently concluded Senatorial primaries in the state.
Ashafa, who as at the time of the primaries/affirmation exercise was the only candidate cleared to contest the election on the party alongside the other incumbent senators from Lagos Central, Tinubu and Adeola, respectively, has insisted that being the only recognized candidate, he was going into the elections unopposed.
The aggrieved senator, maintained, “A report has been making the rounds across a few media houses, alleging the announcement of Honourable Bayo Oshinowo as the winner of the Lagos East senatorial election.
“This unconfirmed report has caused palpable tension within the district due to the failure of the state party to make an official statement on the matter.”
Speaking to one of the officials of APC, in Abuja who pleaded anonymity on the unfolding event, said: “There is no way results of an election would have been announced if what took place was an affirmation. Furthermore, it would be juvenile to declare an individual (Osinowo) who did not scale through the screening process of the party the winner of an election he was not qualified for.”
As at the time of filing this report none of the spokes persons of both camps could be reached as aggrieved party awaits final decision by the National Working Committee (NWC), on the matter.
Meanwhile, the National body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Sen. Shehu Sani remained its only senatorial candidate from Kaduna Central.
The Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Yekini Nabena, gave the clarification in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.
He said Sani was the only senatorial candidate from the zone that was duly recognised by the national body.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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