By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
Faithful members of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday gathered at Ireti Nursery and Primary School, Ikoyi, Lagos, for the party’s presidential primary election, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was expected to participate in the exercise at his polling ward.
The primary election, held at Ward L2 in Ikoyi, recorded a large turnout of party members and officials amid tight security presence. Security personnel conducted thorough screening of participants before granting access to the voting area, while accreditation and voting commenced peacefully.
Although it was observed that the agent representing Stanley Osifo, the other presidential aspirant was absent during the exercise.
Addressing party members before the commencement of voting, the electoral officer supervising the primary, Engr. Adekunle Olayinka, outlined the voting procedures and urged participants to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the process.
Speaking with journalists shortly before casting his vote, former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, described the exercise as a demonstration of democratic participation within the APC.
According to him, party members gathered to fulfil their civic responsibility by supporting their preferred aspirant, President Tinubu.
“This is the day of the APC presidential primary elections, and of course, an aspirant is His Excellency President Bola Tinubu. We are all turning out to carry out our civic duty and responsibility as party members,” Edun stated noting that Ward L2 in Ikoyi holds strategic significance as President Tinubu’s polling ward, adding that members considered it a privilege to host the President during the exercise.
“It is an honour and privilege to be part of a thriving democracy, which Mr. President is doing his level best to strengthen and make more beneficial to Nigerians,” he added.
Also speaking, Lagos APC Chairman, Theophilus Ojelabi, commended party members for their commitment and orderly conduct throughout the series of APC primary elections held across the state noting that the party had successfully conducted primaries for the House of Representatives, Senate, House of Assembly and governorship positions before the presidential primary.
“We started with the House of Representatives primaries, moved to the senatorial elections, then House of Assembly and governorship primaries. Today is the final stage in the emergence of our candidates,” he said.
The APC chairman further assured members that the process would be transparent, credible and orderly, stressing that the exercise reflected the party’s organisational capacity.
“We are going to do it in such a way that Nigerians will know that this is the best organised party in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Ojelabi stated.
He also urged party members to cooperate with electoral officials by presenting valid proof of membership before participating in the voting process.
The exercise was conducted peacefully as party faithful continued accreditation and voting at the venue under the supervision of electoral officials and security operatives.