Confusion as Lagos LP government primary does not hold, postponed until Wednesday

The gubernatorial primary of the Lagos State branch of the Labor Party (LP) to replace its candidate did not take place on Monday as one of the aspirants, the Honorable Moshood Salvador, has stormed out of the venue, alleging an irregularity in the list of delegates.

A new exercise is scheduled for Wednesday, as announced by the party's national vice-president, Alhaji Lamidi Apanpa.

Salvador and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour were both in the race, which was to be held at Papa Ajao along the road to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, but the former expressed concern over the alleged manipulation of the list of delegates, claiming that about 26 delegates belonged to him added to those of his opponent.

It was just when Salvador, who spoke to reporters before storming out of the room, quickly claimed that Rhodes-Vivour had agreed the day before to step down in his place, saying he was surprised that his opponent insists on contesting the primary.

However, Rhodes-Vivour said no one told him a name had been added to his own list, noting that it was a simple mistake that has since been resolved, just as he has denied the report that the party had asked him to step down for Salvador. .

The primary was scheduled for Monday because the party's state chairman, Comrade Olukayode Salako, in a briefing last week, said the party had yet to choose a candidate for the state, dismissing claims that someone had run as an LP candidate in the state for the 2023 ballot.

Salvador, while speaking to reporters, said he went to the primary venue to find that the delegate list had been doctored and skewed to favor his opponent.

According to him, each of the aspirants was mandated to submit 100 names of delegates.

He claimed that 26 of the names of delegates he had submitted were missing from the list compiled and added to the list belonging to Rhodes-Vivor.

Salvador therefore called for the cancellation of the primary and urged the party to set another date when a free, fair and transparent primary would take place.

"I can say with confidence that the party is its own problem. We did our best. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is like a cousin to me and the father even spoke to me this morning, I even promised 5 million naira on his election if he wins.

"We had a rumor that some people were asking him for a lot of money, whether he gave it to them or not, I don't know but we agreed that he should bring 100 delegates, I will bring 100 delegates and Exco State would now join 17 delegates to make 217.

“But this morning, 30 minutes before the primary, we realized that they took 26 delegates out of mine and added it to theirs. be considered a mistake, so I can no longer trust this electorate.

“The party would need to reorganize and not redo the primary today. The delegate lists have been tampered with and they are now saying they will correct it. this electorate. And that is why the primary election should be canceled. says Salvador.

In response, Rhodes-Vivour maintained that no one told him a list had been added to his own, saying the mistake he described as a simple mistake had now been resolved.

“Everyone has their list of delegates and they would be accredited. There are no problems here,” he said.

Speaking further, the leader of the LP denied the report that the party had asked him to step down for Salvador, saying that everything had been resolved, assuring that the LP was moving forward to organize free elections and equitable at the primary venue.

"I don't know why the National Vice President would say that because everyone bought the form to run for office and the fact is that I have the right to run. It's a very system just that we have even though, there was an initial breach, everything has been settled and we are going to have a free and fair election. The election is going to be held today,” he said.

Lagos State Party Secretary and Chairman of the Alternate Gubernatorial Primary in the State, Sam Emeka Okpara, said they were at the venue of the primary to organize the election primary replacement for the Labor Party gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State. , adding that all relevant authorities have been notified.

Okpara, who also admitted that a mistake had been made on the list of delegates, however stated forcefully that no aspirant had the right to request the cancellation of the exercise.

"He may voice his personal opinion or grievances about the exercise, but the truth is that the party has promised all candidates that we will have free, fair and credible primaries for all candidates" , he said.

The party's national vice-president, Alhaji Lamidi Apanpa, speaking to journalists at...