The Peoples Democratic Party Federal Constituency primary election in Lagos State did not begin early in many venues on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the election started at about 3pm in many of the venues due to late arrival of materials.
Distribution of materials began at about 2.30pm.
The police and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were in all the venues to maintain law and order, while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission observed.
A total of 58 aspirants contested for 24 PDP tickets for the House of Representatives for Lagos State.
Of the number, five were unopposed, according to the party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Taofik Gani.
In Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Ola Animashaun defeated two other aspirants to clinch the ticket.
Okoosi Zaid, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee for the constituency, declared Animashaun the winner, saying that he polled 30, while Tanimola Shonubi followed with 29 votes.
A total of 65 delegates participated in the Ikorodu poll, which took place at the De King’s Hotel on Sabo Itoikin Road, Ikorodu.
In Kosofe Federal Constituency, all the 38 PDP delegates endorsed Olushola Hassan as the party’s flag bearer in the constituency.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Alhaji Nurudeen Lawal, said: “We have a sole aspirant, who automatically qualifies as the candidate.
“A sort of referendum was done by the delegates, affirming her candidature.”
The Kosofe Local Government Area PDP Chairman, Mufutau Babalola, said the party was ready to compete with other parties in 2015.
Inside the Gongola Hall of the Niger Palace Hotel, venue for the PDP Lagos Mainland Constituency primary for the House of Representatives, delegates were not present as at 2:30pm.
Only 10 security operatives, including policemen and members of the NSCDC, were on ground awaiting the arrival of the delegates and election materials.
NAN observed that some party loyalists were loitering around the hotel, apparently waiting for their leaders and delegates.
Some minutes later, four officials of INEC arrived at the venue to monitor the exercise.
One of them, Victor Enenche, from INEC headquarters, Abuja, regretted that the primary had yet to commence.
Enenche said: “We were told that the PDP official bringing the election materials was still in Abuja waiting to board a flight to Lagos.
“We came all the way from Abuja and have to remain here to give a report of the event.”
Those who contested in the constituency were Messrs Tajudeen Agoro and Olukemi Banjo.
In Shomolu Federal Constituency, Tolulope Ebun won with 24 votes in the election held at the PDP secretariat, Pedro.
Ebun defeated Ayokunle Abimbola, Adenike Shobajo, Adebowale Adesegun and Adelani Adeniyi.
Ebun said that she was happy at her victory.
She said: “I thank God for giving me this victory.
“It will be an opportunity for me to develop youths in my area.”
Aduke Maina, a leader of the party in the constituency, said that the election was free and fair.
Maina said that the defeated aspirants would support the winner during the general elections because they all belonged to the same party.
Meanwhile, the PDP Woman Leader in Ikorodu, Dorcas Aleshinloye, has urged the party members to support aspirants that would become the party’s flag bearers.
Aleshinloye told NAN in Lagos that there was the need for unsuccessful aspirants and their supporters to back the candidates.
She said that such support would enable the party to win in the 2015 elections.
The woman leader said that she was optimistic that the party would secure many seats in Lagos in the general elections.
“We will present credible candidates and I do not have doubts that we will win,” she told NAN.
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