2019: APC candidate alleges plot to substitute candidature

A Lagos State House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Olawale Rauf Age Sulaiman, has cried out over an attempt to substitute his candidacy for Amuwo Odofin ‘2’ constituency ahead of the 2019 general elections declaring that he did not, at any time sign any letter, withdrawing his candidacy. Raising the alarm through a letter written by his lawyer, Gbadeyan & co, to the party National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, dated 15th November, 2019, the candidate cautioned the party on what he termed “unrelenting efforts by some persons within the Lagos state chapter of the party to substitute his name with that of Hon. Akeem Bello as candidate for Amuwo Odofin ‘2’ constituency of Lagos state House of Assembly”.
 The letter, which he also copied the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC Deputy National Chairman south and the party National Legal Adviser, stated that Hon. Suleiman has not in any way relinquish his candidacy to another person. “Sir, sequel to our earlier letters to you on the unrelenting efforts by some persons within the Lagos state chapter of the party to have the name of our candidate substituted/changed with that of Hon. Akeem Bello as candidate for Amuwo Odofin ‘2’ constituency of Lagos state House of Assembly, and taking into consideration the desperation being displayed by these elements, our client has again written to the Independent National Electoral Commission to restate his stand to retain his ticket. “To that end, our client reiterates that he at no time authored or caused to be authored, either did he sign any letter of withdrawal of his candidacy”. In another letter sent to INEC, Sulaiman stated that he contested and scored the highest number of votes at the All Progressives Congress primaries which held on 5th October, 2018 to nominate its candidate for Amuwo Odofin ‘2’ Constituency of Lagos State House of Assembly at the general elections scheduled for February 2019. “That our client was duly issued with INEC Form CF 001. The personal particulars of person seeking election as candidate nominated by All Progressives Congress and affidavit duly sworn to by him while his name was forwarded to the Commission by the National Body of the Party alongside those of other candidates of the Party for the forthcoming election In Lagos State as the Party‘s candidate for the said Constituency of Lagos State. “That In compliance with the provision of Section 31 (3) of the Electoral Act of 2010 [as amended), INEC published our client’s name at the INEC Secretariat in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area. Many of the teeming supporters and members of the Party in the Constituency saw the publication, while some made electronic recording of the publication at the INEC premises. “That sometime around 12 pm on 11th of November, 2018, our client received Information that attempts are being made by some persons within the party to substitute/change his name with that of another person as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Amuwo Odofin ‘2’ Constituency of Lagos State despite the Party having forwarded our client’s name to INEC. “That on the 13th of November, 2018, The Nation Newspaper published a story wherein it was mischievously and falsely stated that Hon. Akeem BeIlo was the All Progressives Congress’ candidate of the Constituency of Lagos State. “That our client immediately wrote to the National Chairman of the Party to notify him, urging him to stop any unlawful attempt by anybody from changing/substituting his name as the duly nominated candidate. “That our client, in the letter to the National Chairman of APC aforementioned, unequivocally stated that he is neither withdrawing as the candidate of the Party nor was he dead. We are thus writing to notify the Commission that our client is alive and kicking and has not in any way withdrawn or relinquished his candidacy”, it stated.