A former Lagos lawmaker and chairmanship hopeful in Shomolu Local Government, Rotimi Olowo, has taken the All Progressives Congress (APC) to court, challenging the outcome of the party’s primary election held on May 10.
Olowo, a prominent party figure, filed the suit at the Lagos State High Court sitting in Yaba, accusing the APC of failing to conduct a fair and credible primary. He is asking the court to declare him the rightful winner of the contest.
When the matter came up on Tuesday before Justice Mojisola Balogun, the court granted Olowo’s request to serve the defendants electronically. In her ruling, the judge said, “The first to the fourth defendants shall be served by WhatsApp, and this honourable court shall receive photographic evidence, a printout from the device used in serving them.”
None of the defendants were in court. They include Ashimi Lateef, the declared winner of the primary; Ogalla; Lawal Pedro, chairman of the APC Peace Committee; and the party itself. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has already been served.
Speaking to journalists after the session, Olowo’s counsel, Philip Jimoh Lasisi (SAN), said the court had granted permission for substituted service. He explained that the motion covered WhatsApp delivery and pasting notices at the addresses of the defendants.
Lasisi said Olowo is asking the court for two things: to declare him winner of the disputed primary, and to order the party to present the election materials used during the vote.
“The primary was not credible. The results announced do not match the number of accredited voters,” Lasisi said. “There were only 25 accredited voters. Yet, 26 votes were declared — 23 for Ashimi Lateef, 3 for Bowale Sosimi, and zero for the rest, including Olowo and 15 other aspirants. That is clearly irregular.”
The judge adjourned the matter to July 7 for accelerated hearing.
The APC primary, held at the party’s secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja, has sparked tension within the Shomolu chapter of the party. In May, angry residents and party members staged a protest, rejecting the outcome and accusing party leaders of handpicking Ashimi Lateef as the candidate.
They claimed the process was neither transparent nor democratic, and that Olowo, widely seen as the popular choice, could not possibly have polled zero in a genuine vote.
The local government elections in Lagos are scheduled for July 12, but the legal tussle in Shomolu has now cast a shadow over the APC’s preparations in the area.
