Former Lagos State lawmaker and Shomolu Local Government chairmanship hopeful, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, has taken legal action against the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the credibility of the party’s primary election held on May 10, 2025.
Olowo filed the suit at the Lagos State High Court in Yaba, seeking to be declared the rightful winner of the primary, which he claims was marred by irregularities and manipulation.
At the court session held on Tuesday, Justice Mojisola Balogun granted an application for substituted service of court processes on the defendants. The judge ruled that the documents could be served via WhatsApp and through physical posting at their known addresses. The court will accept photographic and printed evidence of such service.
The defendants, who were absent from the proceedings, include the declared winner of the primary, Ashimi Lateef; two APC officials—Ogalla and Lawal Pedro, Chairman of the party’s Peace Committee; and the APC itself. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), a key stakeholder in the upcoming elections, has already been served.
Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Olowo’s legal counsel, Philip Jimoh Lasisi (SAN), stated that the court had permitted alternative means of serving the defendants since they had proven evasive.
Lasisi said Olowo is asking the court to:
1. Declare him the valid winner of the APC primary in Shomolu; and
2. Compel the party to present all election materials used during the primary for inspection.
“The primary was neither transparent nor credible,” Lasisi asserted. “According to the official records, there were only 25 accredited voters, yet 26 votes were declared: 23 for Ashimi Lateef, 3 for Bowale Sosimi, and zero for the rest of the aspirants, including Olowo and 15 others. That clearly points to vote inflation and irregularities.”
The case has been adjourned to July 7 for accelerated hearing, ahead of the Lagos local government elections scheduled for July 12.
The disputed primary, conducted at the APC Secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja, has sparked unrest within the Shomolu APC chapter. In May, aggrieved party members and residents staged protests, accusing party leaders of handpicking Ashimi Lateef as the candidate and sidelining the will of the majority.
Many have questioned how Olowo—widely regarded as one of the most popular aspirants—could have scored zero votes in a fair contest.
While the APC is yet to publicly respond to the allegations, the ongoing legal challenge has further deepened internal tensions and cast a shadow over the party’s preparations for the upcoming polls in Shomolu.
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