Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikorohas accused a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) in Lagos State, Chief Olabode George and the winner
of the party's governorship primary, Jimi Agbaje, of
manipulating the election to favour Agbaje.
Obanikoro, in an affidavit in a suit contesting the election,
alleged that George and Agabje deliberately disrupted
proceedings at the election venue, using thugs and state
security officers to achieve their aim.
Obanikoro is seeking, among others, the nullification of the
election on the grounds that it violated the party's electoral
guidelines, including the production of result in excess of
accredited voters.
Defendants are the PDP and the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC).
"Sometime at 11am, Chief Bode George and Jimi Agbaje, a
co-contestant, arrived at the venue with armed thugs, who
kept a menacing vigil at the gate.
"Sometime at 1pm, George, a chieftain of the first defendant,
returned to the venue of the election with armed mobile
policemen and armed officers of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) where his wife is the chairman,
making the atmosphere charged.
"The thugs earlier brought by George and Agbaje, at this
point, began to disrupt the venue by throwing bottles, stones
and firing gun shots in the direction of the delegates loyal to
me and preventing other delegates loyal to me from
entering the venue.
"The gun shots attracted another detachment of policemen,
who engaged the thugs in a gun and tear gas battle, during
which many of the delegates loyal to me ran to avoid being
caught in the crossfire.
"Many of the delegates, who fled in the ensuing violence and
gun battle never returned and were consequently
disenfranchised as it took the police several hours to restore
some semblance of normalcy.
"The police recovered five guns and rounds of ammunitions
and live cartridges from the thugs brought by George and
Agbaje. Thereafter, the delegates loyal to and brought by
George and Agbaje started arriving the venue of the election
and accreditation which ought to have started since 8am
started at 6.30 pm
"At this late hour, having noticed that many of my delegates
had run for their dear lives, many non-party members,
miscreants and unaccredited persons were allowed by the
state Electoral Panel to be used to replace the delegates
loyal to me.
"The above notwithstanding, the remaining delegates loyal
to me were openly threatened with physical injury not to
vote for me. Even the voting papers given to my delegates
were later snatched from them and the name of my
opponent, Agbaje forcefully written on their papers in the
presence of the electoral officers manning the election," he
said
He argued that but for the manipulation by George and
Agbaje, he would have won the election.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, after listening to Obanikoro's
lawyer, Chris Uche, argue his motion ex-parte for interim
injunctions, refused to grant the applicant's prayers.
Justice Mohammed, who adjourned till December 23,
directed the two defendants to appear in court on the next
adjourned date.
(PDP) in Lagos State, Chief Olabode George and the winner
of the party's governorship primary, Jimi Agbaje, of
manipulating the election to favour Agbaje.
Obanikoro, in an affidavit in a suit contesting the election,
alleged that George and Agabje deliberately disrupted
proceedings at the election venue, using thugs and state
security officers to achieve their aim.
Obanikoro is seeking, among others, the nullification of the
election on the grounds that it violated the party's electoral
guidelines, including the production of result in excess of
accredited voters.
Defendants are the PDP and the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC).
"Sometime at 11am, Chief Bode George and Jimi Agbaje, a
co-contestant, arrived at the venue with armed thugs, who
kept a menacing vigil at the gate.
"Sometime at 1pm, George, a chieftain of the first defendant,
returned to the venue of the election with armed mobile
policemen and armed officers of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) where his wife is the chairman,
making the atmosphere charged.
"The thugs earlier brought by George and Agbaje, at this
point, began to disrupt the venue by throwing bottles, stones
and firing gun shots in the direction of the delegates loyal to
me and preventing other delegates loyal to me from
entering the venue.
"The gun shots attracted another detachment of policemen,
who engaged the thugs in a gun and tear gas battle, during
which many of the delegates loyal to me ran to avoid being
caught in the crossfire.
"Many of the delegates, who fled in the ensuing violence and
gun battle never returned and were consequently
disenfranchised as it took the police several hours to restore
some semblance of normalcy.
"The police recovered five guns and rounds of ammunitions
and live cartridges from the thugs brought by George and
Agbaje. Thereafter, the delegates loyal to and brought by
George and Agbaje started arriving the venue of the election
and accreditation which ought to have started since 8am
started at 6.30 pm
"At this late hour, having noticed that many of my delegates
had run for their dear lives, many non-party members,
miscreants and unaccredited persons were allowed by the
state Electoral Panel to be used to replace the delegates
loyal to me.
"The above notwithstanding, the remaining delegates loyal
to me were openly threatened with physical injury not to
vote for me. Even the voting papers given to my delegates
were later snatched from them and the name of my
opponent, Agbaje forcefully written on their papers in the
presence of the electoral officers manning the election," he
said
He argued that but for the manipulation by George and
Agbaje, he would have won the election.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, after listening to Obanikoro's
lawyer, Chris Uche, argue his motion ex-parte for interim
injunctions, refused to grant the applicant's prayers.
Justice Mohammed, who adjourned till December 23,
directed the two defendants to appear in court on the next
adjourned date.
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