By Dansu Peter Amid rising tensions and protest allegations of imposition in the build-up to the July 12, 2025 local government elections ...
By Dansu Peter
Amid rising tensions and protest allegations of imposition in the build-up to the July 12, 2025 local government elections in Lagos State, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege and Orile-Agege have strongly dismissed claims that party candidates were handpicked or forced on members.
At the heart of the controversy are the outcomes of the APC primary elections held on Saturday, May 10, across the state’s 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas. Though the primaries, conducted through delegate voting and consensus, were supervised by the Election Committee led by Babatunde Ogala, questions have arisen about the fairness of the process in some quarters.
However, the leadership of the APC in Agege and Orile-Agege has come out firmly to counter these narratives, describing the allegations as false and politically motivated. According to them, those fueling the imposition claims are individuals who have long distanced themselves from party affairs and are now reacting bitterly to their failure at the polls.
In a joint communiqué issued after a strategic meeting held at the Agege Local Government Secretariat on Tuesday, party stakeholders declared that the primaries were credible and transparent, contrary to the reports being circulated.
The statement was endorsed by prominent APC leaders including the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Hon. Jubril Kareem (representing Agege 02 in the State Assembly); Dr. Wale Ahmed (House of Representatives member); Afolabi Tajudeen (Special Adviser to the Governor); and Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo.
Others included Alhaji Safari Adaranijo (APC Apex Leader), Alhaji Genius Owolabi Dada (first Executive Chairman of Agege LG), the current Executive Chairmen of Agege LG and Orile-Agege LCDA — High Chief Ganiu Kola Egunjobi and Sunday Johnson Babatunde — as well as other influential party figures such as Richard Akin Osungboye, Alhaji Ayoni Shittu, Alhaji Tunde Azeez, Salau Olaniyi, Rotimi Adeshina, Elder Sunday Ajide, and Ashimiu Adebayo.
The leaders stressed that the process which produced Alhaji Tunde Azeez and Idowu Akinola as chairmanship candidates for Agege and Orile-Agege respectively was above board and reflected the will of legitimate party members.
“Those faulting the process abandoned the APC and their communities long ago. Their recent noise is nothing but the cry of sore losers,” the communiqué stated. “They ostracised themselves from the party for years and only resurfaced when it was time to contest.”
The party also singled out some of the critics, naming Kayode Opeifa, Dr. Samuel Adejare, and Oluyinka Ogundimu — all former lawmakers and public officeholders — as individuals who no longer reside in Agege and have been inactive in local party affairs.
Also mentioned were aspirants like Biodun Ogunji, who reportedly resides in the UK, and Bukola Sofidiya (aka Gidado), a US-based politician. Another critic, Sola Osolana, was described as a known PDP candidate in the last council election who has now attempted to re-enter politics through the APC.
“They parachuted in from abroad with the hope of securing tickets, but the party is not a marketplace where you show up once in four years and expect to be rewarded,” the leaders added.
The message from the APC leadership in Agege and Orile-Agege is clear: the primary process was legitimate, the results stand, and the allegations are simply the fallout of political disappointment. As the countdown to the council polls continues, the party has urged its members to remain focused and united.
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