Party members lament imposition of candidates

 

Party members lament imposition of candidates 

Criticisms have continued to trail the alleged imposition of candidates by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in its last primaries in Lagos.



Some party members and residents of Amuwo-Odofin local government area have also condemned the imposition of Susan Olley as the party's candidate to represent the constituency at the House of Representatives, despite losing at the primaries to the incumbent, Ganiyu Olukolu.
Mr. Olukolu's name had appeared on print and broadcast media as winning the primaries and emerging as the party's candidate for House of Representatives in the constituency, in what was described by party members as an overwhelming victory.
"The delegates voted willingly for him because of his first term performance, and he had won, but the godfathers in the party insisted that Mrs. Olley should be the one to go and her name has already been submitted to INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission)," said a party member who asked not to be named.
"They are imposing the woman on us. ACN proclaims to be an advocate of justice, yet its ways of doing things in the party are undemocratic," he said,
Disgruntled constituents
Some members of the party's youth wing have held protest marches to the homes of some party leaders to express their displeasure over the development. However, the leaders have continued to defend their decision, based on an unwritten zoning formula.
The president of Festac Town Residents' Association, a constituent of Amuwo-Odofin, Jola Ogunlusi, who also described the development as shocking, appealed to political parties to stop imposing candidates on them.
"People to represent us have always been imposed on us," he said. "We are tired of imposition. There should be fairness. It would have been different if he had not contested in the primaries and won," Mr. Ogunlusi said.
Highlighting some of the things which endeared Mr. Olukolu to the residents, Mr. Ogunlusi said he was the first to have a constituency office among the people he represents.
"He is responsible for the National Integrated Power Project nearing completion now, which will boost power supply," he said. "
It was initially on paper that it was completed; but he came, took photos, and presented it to the House that nothing had been done. He relates with us, knows our problems and has been representing us well, unlike his predecessors or the woman who we do not know. He has constructed a block of classrooms for the pupils of Iyagbe Primary School, installed three transformers, donated boats to ease the movement of students schooling in riverine communities, and empowered the people with tricycles, bicycles, motorcycles, grinding machines, freezers and cash, to alleviate poverty," he further said.
Source:234next