REVOLT IN LAGOS APC: CRISIS DEEPENS OVER ALLEGED IMPOSITION OF CANDIDATES AHEAD OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

A major crisis is rocking the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the July 12 local government elections, as protests and allegations of candidate imposition spread across local councils. Aspirants and party stakeholders in multiple Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) are accusing party leaders of bypassing democratic processes to handpick loyalists under the guise of consensus candidacy.

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) had earlier announced elections into the state’s 57 council chairmanship seats and 376 councillorship positions. While the APC leadership initially assured members of free and fair primaries, growing evidence suggests that the party is favouring consensus arrangements over open contests, sparking outrage among aspirants who feel sidelined.

Protests Sweep Across LGAs as Parallel Candidates Emerge

In Ojokoro LCDA, protests erupted following the announcement of Mobolaji Sanusi as the consensus chairmanship candidate. A letter endorsing Sanusi, signed by prominent political leaders including former House of Representatives members Ipoola Omisore and Adisa Owolabi, drew backlash from party factions who insist the selection was imposed without due consultation. Defiant stakeholders convened an alternative screening that produced Rosiji Yemisi as their preferred candidate.

“We are witnessing an attempt to foist a candidate backed by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa, on our community,” a party chieftain said anonymously. “Sanusi is an outsider without grassroots support in Ojokoro. Forcing him on us will cost the party dearly.”

Similar protests flared in Yaba LCDA, where aggrieved party members accused the screening committee of disqualifying the leading aspirant, William Babatunde, who reportedly scored 85% in evaluations, in favour of Babatunde Ojo, who ranked 11th. A coalition of landlords and stakeholders petitioned First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, seeking presidential intervention to halt what they described as an orchestrated imposition.

Aspirants Warn of Political Repercussions, Threat to 2027 Elections

Amid the turmoil, Opeyemi Ahmed, media aide to the outgoing chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, sounded an alarm over the potential fallout. In a viral but later-deleted Facebook post, Ahmed criticized the process as opaque and warned that the party’s disregard for internal democracy could imperil President Bola Tinubu’s political base in Lagos ahead of the 2027 general elections. “If leaders keep manipulating the system, Tinubu should prepare for electoral losses in Lagos,” Ahmed warned.

Veteran APC chieftain Fouad Oki echoed these fears in an open letter titled “Lagos APC’s Crisis of Democracy,” urging party leaders to uphold transparency and inclusivity. “Unity built on injustice is brittle; enduring strength demands fairness,” Oki wrote, cautioning that continued disregard for grassroots voices could trigger internal collapse.

APC Party Leadership Defends Consensus, Insists Process Still Open

In response to mounting criticism, APC Publicity Secretary Seye Oladejo dismissed accusations of imposition, insisting that consensus remains a constitutional mechanism within the party’s rules. “Where consensus is achieved, affirmation will follow; where consensus fails, primaries will hold. Nobody has imposed anything,” Oladejo stated.

He argued that consensus has historically helped the APC avoid post-primary crises. “Consensus is a conflict-prevention strategy that has worked for us in the past,” he said. He also assured aggrieved aspirants that they retain the right to contest primaries in areas where consensus is disputed, adding that the party’s internal mechanisms remain open to resolve grievances.

Fears of Electoral Backlash Grow as Crisis Persists

Despite the leadership’s reassurances, concern continues to mount among APC stakeholders over the implications of the brewing crisis. Political analysts warn that sidelining popular aspirants risks alienating grassroots mobilizers and disillusioning the party’s base. They caution that unresolved disputes at the local level could cascade into broader disunity, undermining the APC’s dominance in Lagos State.

“The APC doesn’t risk losing Lagos to the opposition; it risks losing Lagos to itself,” Oki warned. Calls for transparent and inclusive processes have grown louder as stakeholders urge party leaders to restore faith in internal democracy—not just to secure victory in the July 12 local government elections, but to safeguard the party’s fortunes in the 2027 national polls.