Agbado/Oke-Odo Chairmanship Row Sparks Tension Within Lagos APC

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is grappling with internal discord following the party’s recent local government primary elections, with tensions particularly pronounced in the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

A faction of APC leaders within the council has thrown its full support behind Abiodun Ejigbadero as the party’s chairmanship candidate. In a communiqué dated May 27, 2025, the group reaffirmed Ejigbadero’s candidacy, describing opposition to his emergence as the antics of a “disgruntled aspirant” pursuing personal interests at the party’s expense.

The communiqué, signed by Chairman E.O. Adedeji and Acting Secretary Shola Akande, stated:

“We, the leaders of the APC in Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA, accept the emergence of Abiodun Ejigbadero as the party’s chairmanship candidate and pledge our unwavering support to ensure his victory in the upcoming election. We affirm and uphold the outcome of the primary election as the decision of our great party.”

The statement also called for unity, urging members to prioritize party cohesion and work collectively towards electoral success.

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However, a rival faction led by APC Apex Leader Olusegun Shodiya has strongly rejected Ejigbadero’s candidacy, alleging that he was imposed and had no prior involvement in party affairs. At a press conference held on Friday, Shodiya, accompanied by other party stakeholders including Olanrewaju Baruwa, Olamigoke Phillips, Funmilayo Ojelabi, and others, insisted that Ejigbadero did not win the primary and had never participated in APC activities within the LCDA.

“We have taken this principled position in the long-term interest of our party,” Shodiya said. “Accepting a candidate who lacks history or legitimacy within the APC structure would only undermine the integrity of our democratic process.”

The faction reiterated its support for the incumbent council chairman, Hon. David Famuyiwa, advocating for his re-election based on what they described as his “proven performance and loyalty to the party.”

The situation in Agbado/Oke-Odo mirrors similar post-primary unrest in other parts of Lagos, including Agege, Orile Agege, and Yaba, where several APC members have disputed the legitimacy of candidates produced through the party’s primaries.

In an interview with The Punch, APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo acknowledged the ongoing tensions and confirmed that reconciliation efforts were underway at both local and state levels.

“We’re working to resolve the disagreements and promote unity,” Oladejo said. “These kinds of disputes are not unusual in primaries. People often treat them as final elections, but we’ve always managed such issues before, and this will be no exception.”

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