The All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the House of Representatives in Lagos State faced major disruptions on Saturday as electoral materials and personnel arrived late across multiple locations. In areas like Oshodi/Isolo and Surulere, party members gathered early but were forced to wait for hours before accreditation and voting could start.
At Ejigbo Ward F5 and Isolo Ward F1 in Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency, delays were notable despite a strong turnout. Voting had not begun by 11:30 a.m. at Ward F5, while Ward F1 in Isolo was still stalled at 12:20 p.m. One party member, Salau Samson, expressed frustration after waiting since morning with no progress, noting that many had left angrily.
Olanrewaju Akinbowale, the Director-General of an aspirant, explained that the exercise was initially scheduled for 8 a.m. though he avoided speculating on the reasons for the delay. He stressed that members were still willing to wait. Habeeb Anibaba, an APC chieftain in Ejigbo, suggested that party leaders might be resolving issues but remained hopeful for improved turnout once voting began.
At Ward F1 in Isolo, a journalist observed low attendance, with no officials or materials on site, though security was present. Similar issues occurred in Surulere Federal Constituency I, where multiple wards experienced long waits. Ruth Adewale, a voter at Ward G, described the situation as disappointing, with many members leaving.
At Adeniran Ogunsanya Ward G2, Ward Chairman Alhaja Bilikis Aremu urged patience, citing logistical challenges. She noted the ward is the political base of Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President. Other affected wards included Iponri, Gbaja/Stadium, Shitta/Ogunlana, Yaba/Ojuelegba, and Akinhanmi Cole. In Shitta/Ogunlana, Ward Chairman Laide Aina confirmed officials had not arrived. Meanwhile, Bayo Gafarr, Ward Chairman for Akinhanmi Cole, reported that accreditation concluded by 12:20 p.m.
Earlier, Saleh Yipmong, Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Election Committee in Lagos, urged electoral officers to ensure transparency and fairness. At the APC Secretariat in Ikeja, he warned against actions that could harm the party’s reputation. Across several locations, officials and agents waited for materials and personnel to arrive before proceedings could begin.