By Adekunle Williams
The Lagos State Gubernatorial Aspirant of the Labour Party, Mr Moshood Salvador has rejected the just concluded substitution gubernatorial primary election result, alleging irregularities in the election.
Salvador, the former PDP Lagos Chairman, made the allegation known after the announcement of result of the Labour Party Substitution gubernatorial primary election held in Lagos on Wednesday night.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party Returning Officer, Mr Olumide Apanpa had announced Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who defected to LP in July after losing at the PDP primary, as the LP gubernatorial candidate.
Apanpa said Mr Rhodes-Vivour, scored 111 votes to defeat Mr Moshood Salvador who polled 102 votes at the party’s governorship substitution primary.
Salvador told newsmen that he was rejecting the result because party officials who were not part of the delegates were allowed to vote during the election which was against the new Electoral Act.
“The tricks the party officials made on Monday when I called for the some irregularities and the election was subsequently cancelled, had been perfected a little bit today.
“There are exco members that ought not to have voted despite that a particularly exco member allegedly voted thrice, we had called the attention of it but they didn’t listen to our complain.
“Ordinarily, according to the new Electoral Act, it is only the delegates that are allow to votes but in this election, the statutory delegates which are the party Exco members were allowed to vote.
“This is irregularities and we will not accept the result but I just decided to remain calm and I have told my supporters to stay peaceful as well.
“However, It is now left for the party to make an amendment if they really want to takeover Lagos in the 2023 election because we have already put our legs in the same trouser now.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour said he was glad the whole world could witnessed the most transparent election that had ever happened in the country.
Rhodes-Vivour said there were no irregularities because the election was done clearly and everybody was given the chance to vote.
According to him, even when there was disagreement, everybody was given the chance to express themselves and we came to a very fair amicable solution.
He promised to work with Salvador and ensure that the party take over Lagos State in the hands of APC and form the next government and by God’s grace.
NAN reports that the substitution primary was initially scheduled for Monday, but Salvador had protested the “doctoring” of the delegates list, forcing the party officials to postpone the election. (NAN)