Kazeem Ugbodaga

Senator Ashafa: embarrassed by delegates demand

Senator Gbenga Ashafa’s plan to return to the Senate suffered a temporary setback on Monday as 3,000 delegates who were supposed to ratify his nomination demanded N150 million to enable them vote for him.

Ashafa was the sole aspirant for the Lagos East Senatorial ticket.

Despite being the sole aspirant, the delegates must cast their votes for him to emerge as the candidate.

It was however drama at the Ikorodu Town Hall on Monday as the 3,000 delegates refused to vote demanding that the senator give them N50,000 each, which amounted to N150 million before they could cast their votes for him.

The primary was immediately postponed as the parties could not reach amicable agreement. The Primary will now hold on Tuesday at the Epe Local Government.

But, leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the area came out with excuses that the primary was postponed due to security issues arising from the high turnout of non-delegates at the venue of the primary.

State Vice Chairman of the APC, Mr Fuad Oki who announced the postponement of the election, said the security personnel and the party officials were overwhelmed by the large turnout of unaccredited party faithful who thronged the venue of the primaries.

Oki who is also the chairman of election committee, added that Ashafa is the sole candidate of the APC in the district.

The APC chieftain however assured that the primaries would be held in Epe Local Government.