By Dansu Peter Tensions are escalating within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as aggrieved aspirants prepar...
By Dansu Peter
Tensions are escalating within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as aggrieved aspirants prepare to stage a large-scale protest today (Tuesday) over the fallout from last weekend’s local government primaries.
Protesters are expected to storm the APC state secretariat on ACME Road, Ikeja, and also mobilize in the Somolu area, demanding redress for what they describe as a flawed and undemocratic selection process.
This protest coincides with the deadline set by the party for submission of petitions to its newly constituted Appeal Committee, chaired by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN).
Pedro was appointed to lead the panel following widespread outcry over the conduct of Saturday’s primaries, during which the APC selected candidates for the July 12 local government elections across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
While the party claims that 55 candidates emerged through a mix of consensus and delegate voting, many aspirants have rejected the process, citing a lack of transparency and alleging imposition of candidates by powerful interests within the party.
Notably, the Lagos Mainland LGA and Yaba LCDA were unable to produce consensus candidates, prompting protests in Ebute Meta during the primaries. Now, discontent appears to be spreading, with voices from Bariga, Somolu, and Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye joining the growing list of dissatisfied factions.
On Monday, the APC officially announced the formation of the five-member Appeal Committee, with Lawal Pedro (SAN) as chairman and Otunba Abiodun Olufowobi as secretary. Other members include former Lagos House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Jokotola Pelumi, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi, and Chief Chukwudi Adiukwu.
Party spokesperson Oluseye Oladejo urged all aggrieved aspirants to submit their appeals before 12 noon today, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, assuring that the committee would give fair hearing to all complaints.
Despite this, sources within the party say the mood remains volatile. One insider told The Punch that today's protest will see an even larger turnout than previous demonstrations.
“There will be a massive protest at the party secretariat today,” the source confirmed. “This time, they’re mobilising heavily to ensure they are heard.”
Another party member from Somolu echoed the sentiment, describing the planned protest as a “huge demonstration against injustice.”
The calls for redress are also coming in the form of formal petitions and public statements. A coalition of stakeholders from Bariga and Somolu on Monday described the primaries as “a pre-determined charade,” calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee to intervene.
“We demand that the compromised elections in Somolu and Bariga be cancelled,” said the statement, signed by Aisha Lawal and David Balogun. “The process was completely skewed to favour selected individuals without consultation or fairness.”
In the Lagos Mainland and Yaba LCDA, aggrieved members maintain that no genuine consensus was reached. “Leaders simply handpicked their preferred candidates,” one source alleged. “No meetings were held. No elections were conducted. Other aspirants were told to withdraw or be sidelined.”
Also, in Olorunda and Badagry West LCDAs, some aggrieved members have strongly expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the APC primary election and have been voicing their concerns on social media. Some protesters in Olorunda took their grievances to Lagos yesterday to seek redress
Similar allegations have emerged from Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, where the Ebony Campaign Team has decried what it called “electoral malpractice of the highest order.”
In a statement by the group’s spokesperson, Morufdeen Bello, the team rejected the results which declared their aspirant, Hon. Idowu Daramola, as scoring zero. “This is not just laughable—it’s disgraceful. The people of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye deserve better,” the group said.
The group also appealed to Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and members of the Governor’s Advisory Council to intervene and restore fairness to the process.
Meanwhile, the party leadership has continued to deny allegations of candidate imposition. Both the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), and spokesperson Oladejo maintain that the primaries were free and fair.
As the deadline for appeals expires today, all eyes are on the Pedro-led committee and how it handles the avalanche of grievances. But with emotions running high and more protests looming, the Lagos APC appears to be navigating one of its most turbulent local election cycles in recent years.
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