Tension As Lagos APC Members ‘Reject’ Chairmanship Primary Results

Last updated: May 11, 2025. 6:06 pm

By Praise Ben

4 Min Read

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Tension As Lagos APC Members ‘Reject’ Chairmanship Primary Results
Protesters demand new primaries, threaten legal action
Internal crisis could affect APC’s future election chances

Tensions flared within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday as aggrieved party members staged protests over the alleged imposition of chairmanship candidates in Lagos Mainland Local Government and Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the demonstrations followed the outcome of the APC’s chairmanship primaries conducted at the party’s state secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja. While most of the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 LCDAs reportedly concluded their primaries through consensus or indirect voting, the process in Lagos Mainland and Yaba was said to have collapsed amid controversy.

Protesters initially gathered along Apapa Road in Ebute Metta before marching to the Arise TV office in Victoria Island to air their grievances. The demonstrators accused influential party leaders of bypassing due process by anointing preferred candidates without broad consultation.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Taorid Owolabi denounced claims of a consensus, stating that genuine agreement among aspirants was never achieved.

“Despite extensive consultations, no consensus was reached in both LGAs,” Owolabi said. “We are calling on the State Working Committee to immediately reschedule the primaries for a later date and select a more suitable venue. The process must be transparent and inclusive.”

He further urged the party to adopt revised guidelines aligned with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission rules, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution.

Another party stakeholder, Sodeeq Olawepo, expressed concern over the legal implications of the ongoing crisis, revealing that the matter is already the subject of a pending court case (Suit No. ID/8948GCM/2025) at the Lagos State High Court.

“We are dealing with an internal crisis that threatens our local structures in Lagos Mainland and Yaba. If unresolved, it could severely affect APC’s prospects in the upcoming local elections and even the 2027 general elections,” Olawepo warned.

Lagos APC Members Chairmanship Primary Results

He appealed to party stakeholders at the state and national levels to intervene and restore peace and equity within the ranks.

As of Saturday evening, over 50 chairmanship candidates had emerged across the state through the APC primaries. However, the unresolved disputes in Lagos Mainland and Yaba LCDA continue to cast a shadow over the party’s local operations, raising fears of internal fractures ahead of the local polls.