Despite outbreak of violence, Lagos APC vows to hold ward primary

Tokunbo Afikuyomi, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government electoral committee in Lagos state, says the ward primary scheduled to hold on Monday, will still hold despite the violence that marred the council primary on Saturday.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday, Afikuyomi said Saturday’s incident was “grossly exaggerated.”

He said the party was set for elections in the 377 wards across all the local government areas and local council development areas in the state, adding that adequate security measures had been put in place.

“It has become imperative to state for avoidance of doubt that the councillorship primary will hold as planned in all the 377 wards in Lagos state on Monday 29, May 2017,” he said.

“Today, I have just met with all of our electoral officials. I have met with all of our sole administrators on logistics and security. Indeed, we are set for tomorrow. We are undaunted by any challenge.”

Afikuyomi also denied rumours that he was beaten to stupor during the Saturday violence.

“The fact that I was at work till very late in the night with my team on Saturday, and the fact that I have been up and about since 4am on Sunday for the same purpose cannot logically support the unfortunate media reports that Senator Afikuyomi was beaten to stupor with his head broken,” he added.

While he urged members of the party to come out en masse for the ward primary, he appealed to aggrieved members to take advantage of the conflict resolution mechanisms provided by the party.

“We are determined to see this process through. We are resolving genuine complaints by decent members of the party almost on a daily basis.”