By: Manoah Kikekon
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| APC and Hunja Peter Owolabani |
BADAGRY, LAGOS — Barrister Hunja Peter Owolabani Aspirant All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State House of Assembly Representing Badagry Constituency II has publicly called out the party’s local leadership, revealing that the critical decision to halt the APC Primary election on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, was completely hidden from him and his campaign team.
In an official rejoinder released on Thursday, May 21, 2026, the legal practitioner-turned-politician described reports claiming "all aspirants" were formally notified of the postponement as outrightly deceptive.
The sudden postponement sparked confusion among thousands of party faithful who had mobilized across various wards in Badagry. Local media outlets initially reported that the APC leadership suspended the Badagry Constituency I and II shadow elections due to pressing "electoral concerns" and that the communication lines had been open to everyone involved.
Setting the record straight, Barrister Owolabani fiercely rejected the mainstream narrative:
"My attention has been drawn to the report published by a popular media house in Badagry on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, titled 'Lagos APC Suspends Badagry Constituency I, II Primaries Over Electoral Concerns.'.While I respect the role of the press in holding institutions accountable, I am compelled as a law-abiding aspirant and a stakeholder in the democratic process to place the facts on record: I was never consulted. Not once."
He further underscored that this was not a minor administrative oversight but a structural failure within the party's local framework.
"As of the time of writing this rejoinder, no official communication, verbal or written, has been received by me or any member of my campaign team from the party leadership in Badagry Local Government at any level—ward, local government, or state—informing us of the suspension, its rationale, or any proposed rescheduled date."
According to the party's unofficial feedback, the primaries were put on hold over allegations that certain assigned electoral officials shared personal and political ties with one of the competing contestants.
However, Barrister Owolabani argued that handling such grievances behind closed doors, without bringing all running aspirants to the table, damages internal party democracy. He hinted that the lack of transparency points to an agenda designed to favor specific interests.
> "If indeed there was a legitimate concern about electoral impartiality, the proper course was to investigate transparently with input from *all* aspirants, not to unilaterally suspend the exercise and leave the rest of us in the dark," Owolabani stated boldly. "It is becoming increasingly difficult not to observe a pattern where certain decisions in this party process appear tailored to the advantage of specific interests while other aspirants are sidelined and silenced. Enough is enough."
Despite the setback, the Owolabani Campaign Organization has maintained that it remains fully committed to a democratic, free, and fair primary process. Rather than opposing the reshuffling of electoral officials to guarantee a level playing field, they have issued a clear list of conditions to ensure the integrity of the next voting exercise:
Universal Notification: All cleared aspirants must be formally and simultaneously notified of any decisions affecting the primaries well in advance.
Transparent Timetable: The newly proposed date for the rescheduled primaries must be broadcast openly, completely eliminating selective briefing or hidden alignments.
Strict and Impartial Supervision: The primary must be conducted under tight security and monitored by neutral state-level officials with no personal or financial ties to any candidate.
Adherence to Guidelines: The party leadership must offer verifiable assurances that the process will strictly follow official APC guidelines, prioritizing the will of the Badagry electorate.
"The people of Badagry Constituency II deserve a representative they can trust—one who fights for due process even before he is elected," the campaign's statement concluded. "That is who we are, and that is the standard we will continue to hold."