Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi rejected the APC primary results for Agege Constituency I on Thursday. He claimed party bosses stole his victory despite overwhelming support from members.
The former Agege Local Government Chairman said he polled 9,132 votes in the contest. His nearest rivals managed just 560 and 434 votes respectively.
Yet party leaders announced Gbenga Michael Abiola as the candidate instead. Abiola finished third, Egunjobi noted with frustration.
"Based on results from voting centres and records with INEC and the DSS, I won and was declared winner by electoral officials," he told reporters. Security agents and election authorities had the figures to prove it.
Egunjobi came to the press conference flanked by supporters. APC Chairman in Agege, Fatai Bisiriyu, stood beside him throughout.
All ward chairmen under the constituency backed his claim.
He played video clips showing the collation process unfold. The footage showed his declaration as winner before party bigwigs intervened.
Describing the situation as undemocratic, Egunjobi raised alarm bells. He said the integrity of Nigeria's electoral system hung in the balance.
"This isn't about my personal ambition," he emphasized to journalists. "It's about protecting the will of the people and strengthening our democracy."
Democracy collapses when votes stop counting, Egunjobi argued. Public confidence erodes when leaders distort election outcomes for personal gain.
Still, he swore loyalty to the ruling party. He hadn't come seeking to divide APC ranks or stir trouble within its fold.
"I remain a committed member and a firm believer in democratic principles," Egunjobi stated clearly. His only demand was fairness, transparency, and justice from the party hierarchy.
He'd already moved to challenge the outcome through official channels. A formal petition had been submitted to party dispute-resolution mechanisms and electoral appeal bodies.
"I've presented all relevant evidence supporting my claim," he explained. Egunjobi vowed to pursue every legitimate and constitutional avenue available.
He called on party leadership to review the matter without bias. Justice must prevail over political convenience, he urged them.
Sources close to the situation say tensions remain high in Agege. Party members aligned with Egunjobi have questioned how results could be altered after public declaration.
The dispute highlights growing concerns about internal party democracy in Lagos. Several aspirants have raised similar allegations in recent months across different constituencies.
Party officials haven't responded to Egunjobi's allegations as of press time. Advocacy groups monitoring the primary process promised to track developments closely.
