Lagos APC Members Protest Alleged Candidate Imposition Ahead of LG Elections

Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Lagos Mainland Local Government Area and Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the alleged imposition of candidates ahead of the upcoming council elections. Similar protests erupted in Agege and Orile Agege, where party members rejected the results of the APC local government primaries in their constituencies.

The protesters, including several aspirants, condemned the process as undemocratic and unfair. Thaorid Owolabi, a protester who spoke with Punch, criticized the party for ignoring the appeal panel’s recommendations.

“Despite the appeal panel recommending that no candidate emerge in Lagos Mainland and Yaba, the party is concealing the report and refusing to implement it. But the truth is clear, and we will stand by it using all legal means,” Owolabi stated.

Another protester, Joke Adebanjo, echoed similar concerns, condemning the alleged imposition.

“Some party leaders want to impose candidates without primaries and without our voices. This is not democracy; it’s an insult to the people of Mainland Local Government! We demand a free and fair process, accountability, and leaders who truly serve us,” Adebanjo said.

Crisis Rocks Lagos APC Over Alleged Candidate Imposition Ahead of July 12 Poll

Several aspirants accused the party of violating electoral guidelines and disregarding assurances from the appeal panel. An anonymous party member revealed the frustrations of many candidates:

“We were told that leaders would emerge through consensus or indirect election. In Lagos Mainland and Yaba, there are no ward executives due to ongoing legal cases. Therefore, consensus among aspirants should be the route if indirect elections aren’t possible. Yet, impostors submitted names to the electoral committee and state executives without consent or election, and the party announced them as winners.”

Kafayat Akinpelu, the only female aspirant among 31 candidates for Executive Chairman in Lagos Mainland and Yaba LCDA, lamented the exclusion of women.

“I’m seeking justice and advocating for women’s inclusion, in line with our party’s directives,” Akinpelu stated.

In Agege and Orile Agege, spokesperson for the APC factional Presidential Campaign Council, Adetunji Akinyemi, stressed that the protests aimed to find lasting solutions.

“More than 2,000 signatures were collected this morning against imposition. We call on our leaders to come together and agree on a consensus candidate. This is the only way justice can be served in Agege and Orile Agege,” Akinyemi said.

He emphasized that unity among party leaders was crucial to ensuring fairness and resolving the crisis.

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