The Sole Administrator of Agege Local Government in Lagos, Mr Gbenga Abiola, on Wednesday said reports of violence prevented Monday’s APC councillorship primary from holding in one Ward in the area.
Abiola told newsmen in Lagos that there were reports of shooting and assault of people with machetes in Ward D in the area, following which he advised electoral officers to avoid the place.
The chairman, who spoke while explaining his role on the election day, disputed allegations that he manipulated the results of the councillorship primaries in the area.
He said his role on the day of the primaries was simply to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order during the exercise.
Abiola said he was taken aback by allegations against him over the election, insisting that he only performed his responsibility.
“As far as I am concerned, my duty as the sole administrator is to protect lives and property of the people as the chief security officer of Agege Local Government.
“The electoral officers and materials were of great importance to me, to provide necessary security for them, and that was what I did.
“Yes, I have been getting calls all along on this rumour but I am not bothered because anyone should know that the security of the electoral officers was my responsibility.
“So, primary elections were held and results counted except in one ward, and that was Ward D where there was no election.
“I told the electoral officers not to go there because there were reports of shooting and assaulting of people with machetes, although no death was recorded,” he said
Abiola urged the aggrieved party members who were not comfortable with the outcome of the councillorship primaries to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship.
“I have also contested for councillorship before and I lost though I had the crowd and the multitude behind me, I did not write petition or lie.
“But, today, I am the sole administrator. If you did not get it today who says you won’t get it tomorrow. So, let us maintain peace and decorum,” he said.
Abiola said there were enough positions to share and anyone that was strong in his ward would be considered for other positions if such a person embraces the spirit of sportsmanship rather than violence.
The council boss, also an APC member in the area, urged party members in the area to remain united.
“We should stop the blame game and nobody should blame the sole administrator because I never contested any position.
“We are one in Agege and we can make Agege great again together. There is no reason why anybody should blame me or anybody because someone will win and someone will lose,’’ he said.
The APC chieftain said that he had received threats on his life after the primaries held across the 57 local councils in the state on Monday.
Party members from the local government area, among others, had stormed the state party secretariat on Tuesday, protesting about the councillorship primaries. - NAN
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