Lagos APC is embroiled in controversy as local party members protest the party’s controversial consensus candidate selection process ahead of the July 12 local government elections.
Aspirants and leaders accuse party officials of sidelining grassroots democracy and imposing candidates.
Protests erupted in Ojokoro LCDA and Yaba LCDA, where party members claim preferred candidates are being handpicked. “Imposing an outsider with no electoral history will have negative consequences,” said an anonymous member from Ojokoro.
The situation escalated when Rosiji Yemisi emerged as the chairmanship candidate in Ojokoro despite opposition from other aspirants, leading to further unrest.
The tension is not limited to Ojokoro. In Yaba, a coalition of political stakeholders protested against the imposition of Babatunde Ojo, who scored significantly lower than other candidates in the screening exercise. “It’s unjust to impose a candidate like this on us,” Amoo Ismail, leader of the coalition, told The Punch.
Amid these tensions, Opeyemi Ahmed, a media aide, warned that such practices could harm the party’s future: “If a few are writing names at the top, Tinubu should be ready to lose come 2027,” he stated.
However, Lagos APC’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, defended the party’s process, stating, “Consensus has always worked for us,” and emphasized that no final decisions had been made yet. He added, “We cherish internal democracy, and we have always strived on all of this.”
As the primaries loom, the fate of the party’s unity and the upcoming elections remain uncertain, with key figures urging for a more inclusive approach.
