A support group for All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant Gbolahan Bago-Stowe has accused Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of attempting to interfere in the direct primary election for Somolu Constituency I. The group alleges that the governor is backing incumbent lawmaker Abiodun Orekoya to secure the party ticket for the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly election.
Allegations of Irregularities in Four Wards
The Gbolahan Bago-Stowe Support Group made the accusations during a press briefing at Ward D, Oke Meta Primary School in Bajulaiye, Somolu, on Wednesday, May 20. Spokesperson Rasak Raji claimed that disputes emerged in four wards—D, E, H, and I—after supporters of Bago-Stowe raised concerns about the conduct of the exercise.
Raji alleged that individuals who are not recognized APC members participated in voting in some wards. He also claimed that photocopies of party membership cards were distributed to some voters to influence the outcome. These allegations could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.
Tensions and Disrupted Voting
According to Raji, voting was completed peacefully in Wards A and B, where Bago-Stowe secured victories, and result sheets were signed by agents representing all three aspirants. However, he said the remaining wards became contentious after it appeared the race was turning against Orekoya, who is seeking a second term.
Raji alleged that elections in the disputed wards were disrupted, and agents representing Bago-Stowe and another aspirant, Remi Ogbara, refused to endorse the results. “The returning officer rejected the results from the remaining wards because the agents did not sign them,” he told reporters.
Pressure on Returning Officer
The support group further alleged that pressure was being mounted on the returning officer to accept and announce the disputed results in favor of Orekoya. Raji claimed the returning officer initially showed reluctance to accept the contested results before leaving the venue. He warned that any attempt to declare results without agreement from party agents could deepen tensions within the party.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, Orekoya, and APC officials have not responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report. The APC has yet to issue an official statement on the status of the Somolu Constituency I primary election.
Bago-Stowe, a former chairman of Somolu Local Government, is contesting the APC ticket alongside Orekoya and Ogbara. The primary is part of preparations for the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly elections.
