The outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primary in Lagos’ Shomolu Local Government Area has come under legal scrutiny as former lawmaker and aspirant, Rotimi Olowo, has taken the party to court over claims of vote tampering and irregularities.
Olowo, a two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is asking the Lagos State High Court in Yaba to declare him the rightful winner of the May 10 primary election.
He is also seeking an order compelling the APC to present all materials used during the election.
At a hearing on Tuesday, Justice Mojisola Balogun granted Olowo’s application to serve the defendants electronically through WhatsApp, following their failure to appear in court.
The judge also instructed that photographic evidence and device printouts used for the electronic service be submitted to the court.
The list of defendants includes Ashimi Lateef—declared winner of the primary—alongside Ogalla, Lawal Pedro (chairman of the APC Peace Committee), the APC, and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), which has already been served.
Olowo’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Philip Jimoh Lasisi, told journalists that the primary lacked transparency and was marred by inconsistencies.
“There were only 25 accredited voters, yet 26 votes were declared—23 for Ashimi Lateef, three for another aspirant, and zero for Olowo and 15 others. That clearly indicates manipulation,” Lasisi stated.
The case has triggered unrest in the Shomolu APC chapter, where protests erupted in May, with party members and local residents rejecting the results and accusing party officials of imposing a candidate.
Coming just ahead of the scheduled July 12 local government elections in Lagos, the suit raises broader concerns over the APC’s internal democracy and electoral preparedness.
Justice Balogun adjourned the case to July 7 for accelerated hearing.
