₦airaland Forum

Ismaeel Uthman and Olufemi Adediran


*Protests rock councils over controversial list
*Party defends consensus, denies allegations

Crisis is brewing within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the July 12 local government elections, as many chairmanship aspirants and party leaders have kicked against what they described as a plot to impose candidates.

The aggrieved members and leaders, drawn from various local government areas and local council development areas, accused key figures within the party of attempting to sideline grassroots democracy by handpicking candidates rather than allowing a level playing field.

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission had, in April, released the timetable and guidelines for the commencement of the electoral process for the 57 council chairmanship seats and 376 councillorship positions spread across the state’s 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs.

The announcement came as the tenure of the current local council officials is set to end in July.

The PUNCH reported that the party pushed for the adoption of consensus in selecting candidates for the party’s council primaries, scheduled for Saturday (today).

Following the party’s decision, Saturday PUNCH gathered that party leaders in various LGAs set up internal committees to screen aspirants and streamline those to be adopted as consensus candidates.

However, the move has sparked outrage among some aspirants and party members, who allege that the process was being used to impose preferred candidates rather than allowing for fair competition.

The situation is said to have led to protests in some local councils, with party members alleging subversion of the democratic process.

In Ojokoro LCDA, a group of party leaders, under the auspices of Ojokoro Apex Council, reportedly screened three chairmanship aspirants, out of which one Mobolaji Sanusi, emerged as the consensus candidate.

Sanusi’s emergence was announced in a letter signed by former members of the House of Representatives, Ipoola Omisore and Adisa Owolabi, and addressed to the state APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi.

Attached to the letter was the signature page of the consensus resolution, showing the names of the party leaders and their signatures.

The signatories included the incumbent chairman of the LCDA, Idowu Tijani.

However, trouble started a few days later when one Rosiji Yemisi emerged as a chairmanship candidate from another screening conducted by a different group of party leaders.

A member of the group, who spoke with one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, accused the apex council of attempting to impose a “foreigner backed by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa”, on them as their chairmanship candidate.

He warned that imposing an outsider with no electoral history in Ojokoro would have negative consequences.

Protests also erupted in Yaba LCDA over an alleged plot to impose one Babatunde Ojo as the chairmanship candidate of the party.

A coalition of concerned landlords, electorates, and political stakeholders in the LCDA raised the alarm over a plot to replace the name of the aspirant who emerged top during the screening exercise with that of Ojo.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that another aspirant, William Babatunde, scored 85 per cent to emerge top while Ojo polled 65 per cent and came 11th out of the 14 aspirants screened.

The coalition, led by Amoo Ismail, petitioned the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, urging her and the President to intervene and prevent what they described as a repeat of past political imposition that hindered development in the area.

“It is important to emphasise that we have credible leaders within our community who are capable of selecting the most qualified candidate from the broad pool of aspirants. 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.

“In light of this, we humbly implore Your Excellency, and His Excellency the President, to kindly intervene and consider alternative options that will better serve the interests of our community.

“A more inclusive and consultative approach, one that values the voices of grassroots mobilisers and other key stakeholders, will likely yield a more favourable outcome for both the local government and our great party,” the coalition said.

An aide to one of the aspirants, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused the party leaders in the LCDA of using the name of President Bola Tinubu to justify the imposition of candidates.

“They are going around telling us that the President has given the directive on who should emerge. This is false and disrespectful to the President, who is known to support internal democracy,” he said.

Lamenting the adoption of the consensus method, Opeyemi Ahmed, the media aide to the outgoing Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Dele Osinowo, accused some party leaders of imposition by single-handedly picking their preferred candidates.

Ahmed, in a now-deleted post on Facebook, said the situation, if not checked, might cost Tinubu his re-election bid.

“The party is not sincere with its guidelines; from direct to indirect to consensus. We can do better. Let’s give a sense of belonging to everyone. Tinubu needs to win Lagos, but if a few are writing names at the top and using fake strategy to call for consensus at the bottom, then Tinubu should be ready to lose come 2027,” Ahmed said.

Speaking on the issue, a chieftain of the party, Fouad Oki, issued a stern warning to party leaders, urging them to embrace internal democracy or risk electoral backlash.

He issued the warning in an open letter titled, “Lagos APC’s crisis of Democracy: Internal strife and the risk to President Tinubu’s stronghold”.

“The Lagos APC must choose democracy over cliques. If party managers still believe they know better than voters, permit me to remind you of the stakes: disenfranchised grassroots can sabotage not only council polls, but also general elections to come. Unity forged under injustice is brittle; lasting strength requires inclusivity,” he warned.

He added that the APC could either learn from previous political missteps and legal precedents in Lagos or repeat them and suffer the consequences.

“Let this op-ed be a rallying cry within the party: abandon the politics of imposition, honour the rights of members, and give Lagosians a real voice. Failing that, our party risks losing Lagos not to an opposition challenger, but to its own internal discord – a disaster that would echo all the way to 2027,” Oki concluded.

Reacting to the allegations, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, dismissed claims of imposition, insisting that the party had not concluded its primary processes and that consensus remained a legitimate and constitutionally recognised mechanism.

He noted that consensus had always worked for the party and helped manage post-primary fallout.

Oladejo said, “We have not concluded the process of the primaries, which will be held on Saturday. For those who have been able to reach consensus, there will be affirmation, but for those who have not reached consensus, their delegates will decide who their preferred candidates will be in their respective local governments.

“If we have not concluded the process, nobody can allege imposition. Then, where there is consensus, their leaders will need to sign off to indicate that they all agreed on a particular candidate. And when an aspirant is not happy, he can insist on going to the primary and, if he wins, good luck.

“Nobody is imposing anything on anybody; we cherish internal democracy in our party, and we have always strived on all of this. So, you cannot allege an imposition, even when the process has not been completed.”

Speaking on the reason for the party adopting consensus, he said, “As a party, we see ourselves as members of the same family. Consensus has always been easier to manage, whatever fallout might arise from the process of electing candidates for elections. So, consensus, over time, has worked for us and is recognised by our constitution.

“We have an internal mechanism for resolving conflicts or disagreements, and that machinery will be ignited to resolve whatever grey areas arise as a fallout of the primaries. I can assure you that we will take care of it as we have always done.”

https://punchng.com/lg-poll-revolt-in-lagos-apc-over-imposition/?amp

Nlfpmod

The mistake Apc will make in 2027 irrespective of which state is to impose some candidates on people.

Let there be fair, credible primary election across

We will be here watching. Let me me not say what I know, especially Lagos Island, Muibi, Fashola, Coker and Co. Lagos Mainland, the Vice chairman., Emilagba. Same in Yaba, Koseofe If you dont have business around Ikeja, Ogba skeep at home and watch

Baba sowipe crew. They are waking up gradually.

Lagos needs fresh air ......


Tinubu has bastardized Lagos state and her politics

The true indigines of Lagos needs to come together and stop tinubu continuous imposition of his candidates whom aren't even indigines of Lagos to occupy seats meant for Lagos indigines.

LagosOrigin:
Lagos needs fresh air ......


Tinubu has bastardized Lagos state and her politics

The true indigines of Lagos needs to come together and stop tinubu continuous imposition of his candidates whom aren't even indigines of Lagos to occupy seats meant for Lagos indigines.

You are known to be from Imo state. Why can't you be concerned about the happenings in your home region without carrying Lagos matter for head like gala

helinues:
You are known to be from Imo state. Why can't you be concerned about the happenings in your home region without carrying Lagos matter for head like gala

Are you also from Lagos helinues?

OneCandleAway:
Are you also from Lagos helinues?

Helinues is from Ibadan

OneCandleAway:
Are you also from Lagos helinues?

At least I am from South West, part of Yoruba land.

What's the business of you Igbo's with Yoruba affairs?

LagosOrigin:
Helinues is from Ibadan

Ibadan SW Nigeria not Ibadan South East.

Stop pokenosing

helinues:
Ibadan SW Nigeria not Ibadan South East.

Stop pokenosing

Wether it's south east or south west , it's still Nigeria.

Lagos indigines must rise against tinubu imposition of candidates from other south west states who aren't Lagos indigines from occupying seats meant for the true sons and daughters of Lagos .

Lagos is not tinubu personal property

LagosOrigin:
Wether it's south east or south west , it's still Nigeria.

Lagos indigines must rise against tinubu imposition of candidates from other south west states who aren't Lagos indigines from occupying seats meant for the true sins and daughters of Lagos .

Lagos is not tinubu personal property

When would Imo state people rise against Gov Uzodinma?

helinues:
When would Imo state people rise against Gov Uzodinma?

Ndigbo aren't slaves to one man. If any state governor try rubbish like tinubu is doing in Lagos, he will be resisted.

We dont do slave master and slave followers politics in South east.

#LagosMustBeLiberatedFromTinubu

LagosOrigin:
Ndigbo aren't slaves to one man. If any state governor try rubbish like tinubu is doing in Lagos, he will be resisted.

We dont do slave master and slave followers politics in South east.

#LagosMustBeLiberatedFromTinubu

Like Nnamdi Kanu, Like UGM who locked everyone at home for over 2 years Including your Igwes

They think properly before engaging with me

helinues:
Like Nnamdi Kanu, Like UGM who locked everyone at home for over 2 years Including your Igwes

They think properly before engaging with me

Nnamdi kanu did what Sunday Igboho did in the whole south west. No difference.

LagosOrigin:
Nnamdi kanu did what Sunday Igboho did in the whole south west. No difference.

Igboho did not lock South West people for ordinary a day.

Infact, over average of the Yoruba's don't give a hoot about Igboho.

Can same be said about Nnamdi Kanu who deliberately fooled millions of your people with Jubril left nose and ears?

helinues:
Igboho did not lock South West people for ordinary a day.

Infact, over average of the Yoruba's don't give a hoot about Igboho.

Can same be said about Nnamdi Kanu who deliberately fooled millions of your people with Jubril left nose and ears?

If Sunday Igboho didn't fool you guys in South west with the Yoruba nation bullshit and ran to benin Republic after buhari declared him wanted dead or alive, then how did he ended up in benin Republic prison ?

LagosOrigin:
If Sunday Igboho didn't fool you guys in South west with the Yoruba nation bullshit and ran to benin Republic after buhari declared him wanted dead or alive, then how did he ended up in benin Republic prison ?

You see, you were alive on this forum. I led the campaign against same Igboho.

Nobody gives a hoot about Igboho in South West

But you see for Kanu, he held the blokos of millions of Igbo's. The same Igbo's claiming they can't be controlled by anyone

Una dey Master the hypocrisy in full length

helinues:
You see, you were alive on this forum. I led the campaign against same Igboho.

Nobody gives a hoot about Igboho in South West

But you see for Kanu, he held the blokos of millions of Igbo's. The same Igbo's claiming they can't be controlled by anyone

Una dey Master the hypocrisy in full length

You've never condemned Sunday Igboho before. Infact, you were all over the forum cheering him and millions of his supporters in Lagos on.

I get receipt

LagosOrigin:
You've never condemned Sunday Igboho before. Infact, you were all over the forum cheering him and millions of his supporters in Lagos on.

I get receipt

One annoying thing about you is you don't mind to lie ridiculously just to prove no points.

Even your own people will disagree with you on this

We are not emotionally charged like you lots.

This is the baba soope agbero brigandage and gangsterism non-participatory politics. Make una dey play. Eyes go clear.

Mods, please stop boring us with Lagos local news; Nairaland is supposed to be a forum for national and global news.

News like this is for Radio Lagos (Tiwa n'Tiwa 🙂). Nobody cares about LG elections in Nigeria; we are interested in guber, senatorial and presidential elections.

Time for grassroots politicians and masses to unite and pick their candidates and sponsor them against all these fraudsters. They'd win while the imposed candidate will lose gallantly. I remember what happened in 2023 here in Lagos. That candidate dragging it with King Sunny Ade's son lost wefully while the latter won under Labour party.

Like I've always said, the masses are always at the receiving end. But they're not wise yet. Let kings, Queens, governors or even president endorse the stooge they want to endorse. If the masses can speak with one voice, they'd elect their own candidate who will truly serve the people. Imagine muda obasa trying to impose his son who schooled abroad as candidate of agege LG ? I only pity the slaves supporting these greedy fellows.There are wards councillors who know everywhere in agege and are close to the people, who should have been upgraded and supported to contest so he can do more and grow. But as we can see, they only fight for their pockets and family. Will obasa's son vote for himself? That's where the masses have an edge.

He will probably end up living on the island where his father is staying and neglect agege, his constituency.

What are they revolting about? Don't they know they must serve Tinubu and also serve his son?

No tension anywhere

helinues:
The mistake Apc will make in 2027 irrespective of which state is to impose some candidates on people.

Let there be fair, credible primary election across

now that it is an internal issue, suddenly you now have sense.

Sighs...

When APC and BaT supporter protest against the decision of their party, I used to get really shocked at how dumb they are.
Tinubu is the father of candidate imposition from time immemorial. Is it that they don't know that imposition is a very core and key philosophy of their party and Tinubu? Awon asiere think Tinubu is a democratic. Awon apa.
Like what do they even think their protest will achieve. A party that sees protest as crime .. Mumu people dont even know their party