The All Progressive Congress’ governorship primaries in Badagry on Thursday was marred by the late arrival of electoral officers and materials, as well as low turnout of members.
As of 11:00 a.m. at different election venues in Badagry for the primaries, it was observed that neither APC officials nor materials were on ground.
There were no officials or materials on ground at Methodist Primary School, Badagry; none at Badagry Grammar School, and none at Open field, Ayelaju, Ibereko.
However, a few APC members were seen on ground earnestly awaiting the arrival of the APC officials and materials to cast their votes.
There was also a low turnout of members in all wards in Constituency 2 for the state assembly and governorship primary elections.
Gafar Meyon, an APC member and chairman of the Badagry local council, confirmed that the APC Lagos State House of Assembly primary election for Badagry constituencies 1 and 2 which was billed for Wednesday, was suspended.
According to Mr Meyon, the suspension was allegedly on the orders of the Lagos APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi.
He said, “After waiting in vain for several hours for the electoral materials and staff of APC to come yesterday, directives came from the Lagos state party chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, that the exercise be suspended. The Assembly primaries will now take place today, before the governorship primaries.”
At Ward C, Ibereko, Badagry, few members gathered, waiting for the APC officials, INEC officers and electoral materials to arrive. Some of them registered their sadness over the postponement of the primary from Wednesday to Thursday.
Bankole Adeyanju, a member, said that they were discouraged because of the way the primary was being handled by the APC chieftains in Badagry.
In Ward H, Araromi-Ilogbo, the turnout was also low. An APC member said the assembly primary would first take place before the governorship primary by 4:00 p.m.
At LA Primary School, Ajara, there was no APC member on ground but a teacher said that the election would be held shortly after the school closed and pupils left for home by 2:00 p.m.
(NAN)
