Crisis is brewing within the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as discontent spreads among local government chairmanship aspirants and party stakeholders. With the local government elections in Lagos State set for July 12, internal rifts have emerged over the alleged imposition of candidates in several local government areas.
Many APC members, especially at the grassroots level, are protesting what they believe to be undemocratic practices. Party leaders from different local councils and development areas are accusing top figures of sidelining internal democracy by pushing forward preferred candidates under the guise of consensus.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission had in April released a schedule for the election of 57 council chairmen and 376 councillors across 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs. However, recent developments have thrown the process into controversy.
In Ojokoro LCDA, a group called the Ojokoro Apex Council announced Mobolaji Sanusi as their consensus candidate. The announcement, backed by notable party figures including Ipoola Omisore and Adisa Owolabi, came with signed resolutions from party elders. But just days later, another aspirant, Rosiji Yemisi, was put forward by a different faction within the same council, causing confusion and sparking allegations of external influence.
One party member, speaking anonymously to PUNCH, said Yemisi was being “imposed by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa,” and warned against installing a candidate with no ties to the community.
A similar uproar has taken place in Yaba LCDA, where local residents and political stakeholders are challenging the emergence of Babatunde Ojo. According to a petition sent to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Ojo came 11th in the screening exercise while another aspirant, William Babatunde, topped the list. The petitioners are demanding a halt to what they see as repeated instances of political manipulation that hinder development.
“It is simply unjust and disheartening to the political stakeholders in the local government that a single individual continues to unilaterally impose a chairmanship candidate upon us,” said the petitioners.
In Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Opeyemi Ahmed, a media aide to the outgoing chairman, raised concerns over the changing rules of candidate selection—from direct to indirect and now to consensus. In a Facebook post that was later deleted, Ahmed warned that these tactics could negatively impact the APC’s chances in future elections, including President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Fouad Oki, a senior party figure, also weighed in through an open letter where he warned the party leadership about the dangers of ignoring internal democracy. “Unity forged under injustice is brittle; lasting strength requires inclusivity,” he noted, adding that ignoring the will of grassroots members could have broader consequences by 2027.
Meanwhile, Lagos APC’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, denied claims of imposition. He said the selection process had not yet concluded and that consensus remained a legitimate part of the party’s constitution. “Nobody is imposing anything on anybody,” Oladejo stated. “Where consensus has been reached, affirmation will follow. In other cases, delegates will decide.”
Oladejo further explained that consensus had been effective in managing conflict within the party and assured that internal mechanisms were in place to address grievances.
