By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Somolu House of Assembly Constituency 2 have rejected the outcome of the party’s primary election that declared Mr. Moruff Alli-Balogun as the winner, insisting that Hon. Samuel Apata emerged victorious in the exercise conducted across the constituency.
The protest was contained in a petition addressed to the Lagos State Chairman of the APC at the party’s state secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja, following the primary election held on Wednesday, 20 May, 2026.
The petition was signed by Apostle Oyewusi, Chairman, on behalf of Somolu Constituency 2.
The aggrieved party members, under the umbrella of Somolu Constituency 2 and led by their Chairman, Apostle Oyewusi, alleged that the result announced by the state leadership did not reflect the actual votes cast by members at designated voting centres within the constituency.
In the petition titled, “Total Rejection of Somolu House of Assembly Constituency 2 Result,” the group challenged the authenticity of the published result allegedly issued from the office of the state chairman, which declared Alli-Balogun as the party’s candidate.
The petitioners stated that the declaration was “not true and unacceptable,” arguing that it contradicted the genuine outcome of the election and the collective decision of party members who turned out in large numbers to elect their preferred aspirant.
“We wish to state unequivocally that whatever premise you base your result upon is not true and unacceptable. Your result negates the correct result and true reflection of the members of Somolu Constituency 2 who turned out en-masse to vote their choice aspirant,” the petition read.
Consequently, the group announced its total rejection of the result and maintained that the figures recorded at the polling centres, under the supervision of representatives of the state party leadership, clearly showed Apata as the winner of the contest.
According to the petition, the authentic results of the primary election were as follows: Hon. Samuel Apata polled 9,081 votes, Mr. Atunrase secured 814 votes, while Mr. Moruff Alli-Balogun garnered 677 votes.
“We therefore hereby reject the result in its entirety, the group declared, adding that anything to the contrary of the above is hereby rejected, null and void.”
Furthermore, the petitioners accused unnamed forces within the party of attempting to impose a candidate on the constituency, warning that members would resist any move capable of undermining the democratic process.
“With deep sense of humility to your office and person, sir, we wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that we will not accept any form of imposition from any quarter, especially putting an aspirant we do not know, nor have ever seen at our political gatherings and who has never in any manner contributed to the party in the ward or local government as our representative,” the petition stated.
The aggrieved members further described the development as an affront to the people of the constituency and a dangerous precedent capable of weakening confidence in the party’s internal democratic structures.
“We consider this act as a big slap and an insult on the generality of the constituents of Somolu Constituency 2, a subversion of justice and an undemocratic act, the consequences of which will be very grave,” they warned.
Despite the seeming irregularities, the group reaffirmed its commitment to the APC but urged the state leadership to uphold fairness, reward loyalty and protect due process in the interest of party unity and electoral success.
“We believe that rewarding loyalty and respecting due process is the only way to preserve party unity and ensure victory in the general elections,” the petitioners said, expressing hope that the state chairman would take what they described as the right and courageous decision.
The group disclosed that documents supporting its claims had been attached to the petition for verification and consideration by the party leadership.
While demanding an immediate review of the disputed result, the petitioners called on the Lagos APC leadership to declare Hon. Samuel Apata the duly elected candidate for Somolu House of Assembly Constituency 2, insisting that such action would reflect the true wishes of party members and restore confidence in the integrity of the primary election process.
