By Peter Dansu Former Lagos State lawmaker and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lanre Ogunyemi, has called on President Bo...
By Peter Dansu
Former Lagos State lawmaker and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lanre Ogunyemi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the growing internal crisis rocking the Lagos State chapter of the ruling party, warning that unresolved divisions could undermine the party's electoral fortunes in the 2027 general elections.
In an open letter titled "Unity Before Victory: Repositioning Lagos APC for Electoral Success in 2027", posted on his Facebook page, Ogunyemi expressed concern over what he described as escalating tensions between the two dominant political blocs within the Lagos APC, the Justice Forum (JF) and The Mandate Movement (TMM).
The former two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly said recent primary elections, local government contests and party executive selections had exposed deep-rooted grievances relating to candidate selection, power sharing, inclusion and internal democracy.
According to him, the situation has created dissatisfaction among party members and stakeholders across the state, raising fears that the party could face serious electoral consequences if urgent reconciliation efforts are not initiated.
Ogunyemi cited recent public remarks by the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, who reportedly threatened a protest and called for the dissolution of political groups within the Lagos APC due to persistent conflicts over candidate endorsements and party appointments.
He also referenced comments by veteran journalist and political analyst, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, who urged President Tinubu to intervene in the Lagos APC crisis, alleging that manipulation of party primaries and candidate substitutions contributed to internal discontent that affected the party's performance during the 2023 elections.
The APC stalwart argued that the warning signs should not be ignored, noting that the party's loss in the 2023 presidential election in Lagos was a clear indication that political dominance can no longer be taken for granted.
He pointed to electoral statistics showing that APC won Lagos by 132,798 votes in the 2019 presidential election but lost the state to the Labour Party in 2023 by 9,848 votes, describing the development as a significant warning signal.
According to him, factors such as youth mobilisation, digital political engagement, urban voter dissatisfaction, internal party disputes and allegations of exclusion contributed to the party's declining electoral margin.
Ogunyemi warned that continued factionalism could weaken APC's grassroots structures, demoralise party loyalists, reduce voter enthusiasm and trigger protest votes in future elections.
To address the situation, he proposed a series of reforms, including the strengthening of internal democracy, transparent and credible primary elections, effective dispute resolution mechanisms and the establishment of a Lagos APC Reconciliation Committee comprising elders, elected officials, youth representatives, women leaders and leaders of various political tendencies within the party.
He further called for sustained youth engagement, improved welfare for grassroots mobilisers, broader stakeholder inclusion and stronger policy communication to reconnect the party with emerging voter demographics.
The former lawmaker urged President Tinubu to direct the National Working Committee of the APC to constitute an independent panel to review the outcomes of contentious primary elections in Lagos, particularly in areas where aggrieved aspirants have raised concerns.
He expressed worry that several petitions and appeals submitted by dissatisfied aspirants may have been ignored or unfairly handled, stressing that a transparent review process would help restore confidence and prevent further divisions.
"The current tensions within Lagos APC are serious but manageable. The path forward lies in reconciliation, inclusion, transparency, fairness and renewed grassroots mobilisation," Ogunyemi stated.
He maintained that if the party successfully harmonises the interests of its various groups and addresses lingering grievances, it would emerge stronger, more united and better positioned to retain its dominance in Lagos ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ogunyemi concluded by appealing to President Tinubu to take decisive action in the interest of party unity and electoral success, insisting that no political bloc can single-handedly deliver victory, but a united APC can secure Lagos and strengthen its prospects in future elections.
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