A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, has refuted claims made by the President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State, Dr. Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, that Igbos were systematically denied the right to vote during the local government elections held on Saturday, July 12.
Aguene had alleged that Igbos residing in Lagos State were being disenfranchised, not just in the current local council elections, but in every election cycle.
He expressed his grievances during an interaction with journalists on election day, lamenting that the marginalization of the Igbo community in Lagos extends beyond voting rights to the deliberate exclusion of Igbos from contesting for key political positions such as Local Government Chairmanship and Councillorship.
He said, “Do you know that the Igbos resident in Lagos State are denied the opportunity to vote? This isn’t peculiar to this election alone; it has been a recurring pattern in every electoral cycle. Igbo people in Lagos are hardly given the chance to contest for positions like local government chairmanship or councillorship. Despite the enormous contribution of Igbos to the economic and political development of Lagos, we continue to face systemic exclusion and unfair treatment.”
Dr. Aguene further argued that while a few Igbos may occupy roles such as Vice Chairmen in some local governments, these are insufficient representations considering the Igbo community’s significant economic impact on Lagos State.
He continued, “It is, therefore, safe to conclude that what we have in Nigeria is not true democracy. Democracy should foster equity, justice, and fairness. What prevails here is a system where opportunists hijack power and rule without accountability. The widespread voter apathy in Lagos and across Nigeria stems from the people’s frustration with such opportunism.
Many Nigerians, including essential workers like journalists and security personnel, can barely afford a decent living. The country’s governance has become the preserve of a privileged few, leaving the masses in hardship.”
However, APC stalwart Joe Igbokwe described Dr. Aguene’s claims as baseless, misleading, and unacceptable. He said his personal experience during the elections contradicted these allegations.
According to Igbokwe, there was no evidence of disenfranchisement at the polling unit where he voted in Itire-Ikate, Surulere, nor in any other part of the state as far as he could confirm.
Igbokwe stated, “I participated in the Lagos State Local Government elections today, and nothing of the sort happened in Itire-Ikate, Surulere, where I cast my vote. Beyond my own experience, I reached out to our coordinators and foot soldiers across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in the state.
The feedback was consistent—there was no report of any group being disenfranchised. So, where exactly did Solomon Ogbonna get this information from? His claims are not only false but also entirely unacceptable.”
The sharp divergence between Aguene’s accusations and Igbokwe’s rebuttal reflects broader concerns about ethnic representation and participation in Lagos politics, especially regarding the Igbo community’s role in the socio-political landscape of the state.