- Lagos APC in Turmoil as Aggrieved Members Besiege House of Assembly
- Fault Ojelabi for being responsible for electoral setbacks
- Protesters reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC and pledged continued support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Rising tensions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State spilled into the open today as aggrieved members of the party staged a protest at the entrance of the Lagos House of Assembly.
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Eko Hot Blog reports that the protesters demanded a fairer distribution of political appointments at the local government level and called for the immediate resignation of the state party chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi.
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The group identifying themselves as Concerned and Loyal APC Members, accused the party leadership of nepotism and claimed that appointments have been dominated by the Justice Forum faction. They argued that this imbalance has created widespread dissatisfaction among ordinary party members.
Central to their grievances is what they described as ineffective leadership by Pastor Ojelabi since he assumed office in 2021. They hold him responsible for electoral setbacks and a decline in the party’s fortunes, particularly pointing to the mismanagement of the 2025 local government elections.
According to the protesters, Ojelabi assembled a biased team that organised what they described as the worst primary elections in the party’s history across all 57 local government areas and local council development areas. They contrasted his leadership with that of past chairmen such as Abiodun Ogunleye, Otunba Henry Ajomale and Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, who they said ran inclusive and effective parties that prioritised members’ interests and improved electoral outcomes.
In a strong criticism, the Concerned and Loyal APC Members said that for the first time since the start of the Fourth Republic, the party under Ojelabi lost Lagos State to the opposition in 2023. They also expressed disappointment at the party’s poor performance in the recently concluded local government elections.
Party supporters at the protest voiced concern that key local government positions, such as supervisors and special advisers, are heavily concentrated within the Justice Forum. They stressed that these appointments are crucial for effective local governance and argued that monopolising them undermines democratic values and disregards the contributions of other party members.
A member from Alimosho, Sulaiman Agbaje, criticised the imbalance, saying that despite widespread support for the ruling party, appointments are not being shared fairly.
“The people’s votes, which brought leaders into power, are not being respected. Appointments have been cornered by a single faction,” Agbaje said.
Similarly, Bayode Taofeeq from Ikotun Isheri warned that such bias and unequal power sharing could harm the party’s chances in future elections, particularly the 2027 polls. He linked these issues to previous electoral losses in Lagos and urged immediate action.
“We demand a fair share of appointments between the Mandate Group and the Justice Forum. This will ensure fairness and recognise the contributions of all party members,” he said.
The protesters also alleged that Ojelabi, Faleke and their allies are trying to further polarise the party by imposing a one sided composition of local government executives. They claimed this agenda is aimed at entrenching control and positioning key figures for the 2027 elections.
“Party members are not happy. We are tired of selfish leadership and a team that is moving away from the progressive ideals championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” their statement read.
Despite their grievances, the protesters reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC and pledged continued support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Sanwo Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda.
Their petition, addressed to the state governor and copied to the Speaker of the House, was read by their spokesperson, Segun Faleye. It concluded with a direct demand:
“Our appeal to the respected leaders of our party is to ask Pastor Ojelabi to step down immediately to prevent another looming crisis in the party. We also urge that those entrusted with constitutional responsibilities be allowed to carry out their duties without interference from individuals pursuing selfish interests.”
The statement ended with a clear message: “Enough is enough. Ojelabi and his team should step aside and allow the party to breathe again in Lagos State.”
