By Akonasu Gbedozin John Hendewe Padonu, the Consensus Candidates Fresh political unrest has erupted in Badagry Local Government as aggrie...
By Akonasu Gbedozin
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| John Hendewe Padonu, the Consensus Candidates |
Fresh political unrest has erupted in Badagry Local Government as aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ajido Ward G take to the streets in protest over the alleged imposition of a councillorship candidate, David Sewedo, against the wishes of the local party leadership and stakeholders.
According to protesting party members, Sewedo’s emergence as the APC flagbearer was not only undemocratic but also a direct defiance of the decision made by the ward's leadership, who had unanimously adopted John Hendewe Padonu as their consensus candidate.
The controversy has sparked outrage among grassroots supporters who claim the move undermines the party’s internal democratic processes. Fingers are now pointing at Hon. Olarenwaju Ibrahim Layode, the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, who is being accused of orchestrating the imposition.
“This is injustice. How can someone that the leadership and stakeholders of our ward rejected be forced on us as the party’s candidate?” an angry party member asked during the protest. “People who have sacrificed their time, energy, and resources for this party are now being pushed aside. This is not democracy — it’s imposition.”
The protest, which drew large numbers of party faithful in Ajido, underscores growing discontent within the APC ranks in Badagry. Protesters held placards and chanted slogans demanding the reversal of what they described as a “flawed and manipulated” selection process.
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| The Original Consensus List by party leaders |
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| The Manipulated Candidates list from Lagos |
The decision to sideline Padonu — who, according to ward members, had earned overwhelming support and emerged through a transparent consensus — has been described as a betrayal of the party’s grassroots structure.
“This is not just about one ward. This is about the future of our party,” said another protester. “If leaders at the top continue to ignore the voices of the people, we risk losing credibility not just in Badagry but across Lagos.”
The incident adds to a series of grievances already trailing the APC’s local government primaries across the state, with allegations of impositions and irregularities threatening the party’s image as it prepares for the upcoming general elections.
Concerned stakeholders in Badagry are now calling on the APC state leadership to intervene swiftly and restore the mandate to John Padonu, warning that failure to act could deepen internal divisions and alienate loyal supporters.
As the tension builds, all eyes are now on the APC’s decision-makers. Will they uphold the will of the grassroots or allow political interference to derail the democratic process in Badagry?
The coming days will determine whether the party can quell the unrest and mend the growing rift within its ranks.
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