The Abdul-Ahmed Olorunfemi Mustapha Campaign Organisation has rejected
the disqualification of the former Permanent Secretary, Abdul-Ahmed
Olorunfemi Mustapha from the Lagos State Governorship primary of the All
Progressives Congress.
The campaign organization said the disqualification did not follow due process
and remained an assault on the fundamental human rights of Mustapha to
vote and be voted for.
The organization, in a press statement signed by the Head of Media and
Communication, Daniel Ajibade on Thursday, said it is worrisome that there
was no official communication regarding the purported disqualification of
Mustapha and it is more shocking for the aspirant to learn of the development
at the venue of the primary.
He said that his principal was turned back at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports
Arena, the venue of the primary after officials told him he could not be
accredited because he was not cleared by the screening committee of the APC
for the exercise.
The campaign organization said Mustapha went through the screening in Abuja
and for more than two weeks, the result of the exercise was not
communicated to the aspirant only for him to learn of the disturbing
development at the venue of the primary.
The group alleged that the disqualification was masterminded by the camp of
one of the aspirants who is afraid of Mustapha but it said: “that subversion of
the rule of law and subjugation of the will of the people must not be allowed
to stand”.
“The Abdul-Ahmed Campaign Organisation vehemently condemns this
unconstitutional act.
We feel this is not the right way to play politics;
Mustapha has the right to vie for the position of Governor in Lagos as
guaranteed by law and any move to strip him of that right should be
considered an affront to the constitution of Nigeria.
“Mustapha submitted himself to all the processes as required by the rules of
the party and the constitution of this country.
To the best of his ability, he
meets the requirement as laid down in the guidelines but if the screening
committee felt there were some areas he was found wanting which would not
make them give him the clean bill of health, we think that too should be
properly communicated to him and for every Nigerian and Lagosian to know
instead of shrouding everything in secrecy.”
The campaign organization called for the cancellation of the exercise
conducted at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Thursday, saying the outcome is
not the reflection of the will of the majority of APC members in the state.
“We, therefore, call on the leadership of our great party to reverse this
anomaly; we call for a fresh primary which will allow all aspirants to exercise
their right and enthrone the will of the people and that of the vast majority of
members of APC in the state,” the organization said
