A coalition of Alimosho stakeholders has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of overturning its House of Representatives primary by replacing the winner, who polled 634 votes, with an aspirant who allegedly secured only six.
The group, operating under the banner Voice of Alimosho, addressed journalists on Wednesday at Idimu in Ikotun, Lagos State, alleging that the party replaced the winner of its primary election, Hon. Ife Salako, without any reason or explanation.
At the press briefing, addressed by the group’s representative, Umunakwe Princess, the coalition called on the NDC leadership to immediately restore Salako as the party’s candidate, insisting that any attempt to replace him amounted to a violation of democratic principles and the will of party members.
The group, which turned out in large numbers, said the controversy was not about personalities but about preserving the sanctity of votes cast during the party’s primary election.
“We want to bring national attention to what is happening with the Alimosho Federal Constituency NDC candidacy, where we believe the mandate freely given to Hon. Ife Salako is being taken away from him,” the group said.
“It is not about fighting anybody. It is not about insulting anybody. It is not about personal hatred. It is about democracy. It is about the votes. It is about the people.”
The group claimed that results available to it showed Salako won the primary with 634 votes, while the aspirant now being presented by the party allegedly polled only six votes.
“We ask a very simple question: How does a candidate who received 634 votes suddenly lose his mandate to a candidate who received six votes?” the group asked.
“If the primary election was conducted to allow party members and delegates to choose their candidate, then why conduct the primary in the first place if the outcome can simply be changed afterwards? Where is the democracy in this?”
The protesters argued that Salako had been active in grassroots politics in Alimosho long before the emergence of the NDC, recalling his involvement in the 2023 Labour Party movement.
According to the group, Salako had consistently supported party structures in the constituency, including funding the local government party secretariat from the Labour Party era through its transition to the NDC.Â
They also alleged that he financed polling unit mobilisation, supported party agents during elections, and provided scholarships and other assistance to residents, describing him as “the person we know” in Alimosho.
“For many of us, this is about a relationship that has existed for years. He has worked with the grassroots, invested in the community and built relationships across Alimosho,” the group said.
Rejecting what it termed “candidate imposition,” the group insisted that the outcome of the primary election must be respected.
“We do not want an imposed candidate. We want the candidate chosen through the primary process to be allowed to represent the party,” it said.
The group cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of association, arguing that internal party democracy should not render the votes of members meaningless.
“A primary election should mean something. A vote should mean something. A mandate should mean something,” the statement added.
The group also appealed to NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, referencing his repeated calls for electoral integrity.Â
Quoting Obi’s March 2023 statement that “our votes must count in order for Nigeria’s democracy to flourish,” alongside a 2026 message urging Nigerians to defend the sanctity of votes, the group asked whether the same principle should not apply to party primaries.
“Mr Peter Obi, we respectfully ask: If our votes must count in the general election, shouldn’t the votes of party members also count during a party primary?” the group said.
“If 634 people voted for Ife Salako, those 634 votes cannot simply be treated as though they never happened.”
The group further called on NDC National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, to intervene in the dispute, noting that the former Bayelsa governor had previously spoken against the imposition of candidates and advocated for transparent primary elections.
“We are particularly encouraged by Senator Dickson’s previously expressed opposition to the imposition of candidates. If Ife Salako secured 634 votes, why should his mandate be replaced by someone who secured six? This is the question the NDC leadership must answer,” it stated.
While stressing that it was not making criminal allegations against any individual, the group demanded an independent and transparent explanation from the party leadership. It called on the NDC to disclose the certified primary election results, explain who authorised the alleged substitution, identify the constitutional basis for the decision, and clarify what became of the votes cast by delegates.
“We are not threatening anybody, and we are not calling for violence,” the group said. “We are simply saying that we will not pretend that everything is normal when we believe the mandate of the people has been disregarded.”
Reaffirming its position, the group declared: “Ife Salako or nothing.”
It urged the party leadership to review the primary records, listen to the grassroots, and restore what it described as the authentic mandate, warning that “you cannot ask people to believe that 634 votes are worth less than six votes without giving them a convincing explanation.”
(SaharaReporters)