PDP Moves To Bar APC From Lagos Senate Contest

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

Controversy has dogged the candidature of the former managing director of Polaris Bank, Tokunbo Abiru to represent the Lagos East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC.

The controversy follows a court action instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to disqualify him from the contest to fill the vacant Senate seat on the claim that he is not a registered voter in the constituency.

Abiru according to the court claims was registered in Etin-Osa Local Government Area which is within the Lagos Central Senatorial District, a constituency presently represented by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

However, a twitter user Okufuwa Oluwatoyin on Friday morning poohpoohed the claim asking whether it was possible for one to live and register in Etin-Osa and represent Lagos East?

The PDP is asking the court whether Abiru can represent the people of Lagos East Senatorial District without properly moving his voting point from Lagos Central to Lagos East.

The claim of the plaintiff have, however, been dismissed by the Lagos State chapter of the party which rebuked the plaintiffs for lacking insight on the Electoral Law saying that the examples of Governor Yahaya Bello and Willie Obiano respectively of Kogi and Anambra States have settled the matter.

He said:

Will Abiru Mukhail Tokunbo vote in Etiosa or Ikorodu local government in relation to Lagos east Senatorial election, 2020? Etiosa nobi Lagos east o!

The threats from the court and possible disqualification could be the greatest challenge to the hegemony of the APC over all three Lagos Senate seats.

The party and its precursors had consistently won all Senate seats in the state.

Reacting to the development, the Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Oluseye Oladejo, in a statement, said the allegation is false and that plaintiffs are not exposed to the Electoral Act of 2010 (as amended).

Oladejo noted that the APC is assured of victory in the forthcoming October 31 bye-election.

Part of the statement reads, “The allegation as contained in that report is not only false but we find it laughable. It is apparent that the Plaintiffs have not availed themselves the original copy of the Electoral Act 2010 (As amended).

“We understand their panic, fear and unease on account of the overwhelming and calamitous defeat that awaits them on October 31. They should do well to ask the traducers of Willie Obiano (of Anambra State) and Yahaya Bello (of Kogi State) and avail themselves of several other Court decisions in that respect.

“Let them continue to chase shadows while we remain focused as we campaign and gather support in the nooks and crannies of the Lagos East Constituency.

“We assure our teaming supporters and the entire electorate that our candidate’s eligibility is unassailable and by God’s grace he will emerge victorious at the election come October 31.”

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