Headline: A Rising Storm in Lagos' APC:imposition Drama Flares Up Ahead of Local Government Polls
Political Upheaval Surges in Lagos APC due to Accusations of Intending to Force Candidates for July 12 Vote Result
Cue the drama! A turbulent undercurrent is brewing within the Lagos State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), casting a shadow over the upcoming July 12 local government elections. The reason? A seemingly never-ending power struggle amongst party members, with chairmanship aspirants and leaders alike voicing their disapproval over alleged attempts to impose candidates.
The heat of tension can be felt across various local government areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), as key figures in the party face accusations of undermining grassroots democracy. And with strong words exchanged, protests have become the norm in many neighbourhoods.
The bone of contention? Alleged handpicking of candidates rather than adhering to a free and fair contest for the 57 coveted positions across the state's 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) already published the timetable and guidelines for the elections back in April.
As the tenure of the current council officials draws to a close, the party has pushed for consensus candidates to be selected for the party's upcoming council primaries, scheduled for Saturday. This move has, however, sparked cries of protest from some aspirants and party members, according to reports from Saturday PUNCH.
In some LGAs, party leaders have formed internal committees to streamline aspirants and propose consensus candidates. However, these committees are being accused of using the process as a façade for imposing their preferred candidates, rather than offering a level playing field.
The discontentment has been escalating in several LGAs, with allegations of manipulation being aimed at favouring specific candidates. One area particularly affected is Ojokoro LCDA, where party leaders under the Ojokoro Apex Council screened three chairmanship aspirants. The process resulted in Mobolaji Sanusi emerging as the consensus candidate. This announcement, however, sparked a second round of screening and the declaration of Rosiji Yemisi as a chairmanship candidate, causing further confusion and discontent within the local council.
Similar controversies have cropped up in Yaba LCDA, where protests erupted over an alleged plot to impose Babatunde Ojo as the party's chairmanship candidate. The coalition of concerned landlords, electorates, and political stakeholders claimed the name of the actual top scorer from the screening exercise was being replaced by Ojo's name, despite Ojo scoring far less than the actual winner.
William Babatunde, who scored significantly higher, was the preferred choice in the screening. But concerns arose when his name was allegedly substituted with that of Ojo, causing a wave of discontent. The coalition petitioned the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, urging her to intervene and prevent what they termed a repeat of past political impositions that had hindered development in the area. They also called on President Bola Tinubu to take action to ensure a fair and transparent selection process.
"It's unjust and disheartening for political stakeholders in the local government to feel shut out," the coalition stated in their petition. They implored the presidents to intervene and implement a more inclusive and consultative approach.
An aide of one of the aspirants claimed that party leaders in the LCDA were falsely using the name of President Bola Tinubu to justify the imposition of candidates.
"They're telling us that the President has given the directive on who should emerge. This is both 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 imposing candidates single-handedly. If this inconsideration continues, it might cost Tinubu his re-election bid in 2027, Ahmed suggested.
A stern warning to party leaders was issued by party chieftain, Fouad Oki, in an open letter titled, "Facing the Unrest in Lagos APC: Striving for Democracy Over Cliques". Oki emphasized the stakes are high, and electoral backlash could ensue if party managers persist in believing they know better than voters.
Tidbits
- The APC has faced criticism for the primary process, with some areas boycotting the exercise due to unresolved internal conflicts.
- A legal suit is pending before the Lagos State High Court over the intra-party crisis in Lagos Mainland and Yaba, which could impact the APC's performance in upcoming elections.
- The crisis could potentially sabotage not only the local government elections but also future general elections, as disenfranchised grassroots members might resist the party's candidates.
- The internal power struggle within the Lagos APC, particularly over the imposition of candidates for the upcoming local government elections, has led to numerous protests and accusations of undermining grassroots democracy.
- Some chairmanship aspirants and party members have voiced their disapproval, claiming that the consensus candidates being proposed by party leaders are simply facades for imposing preferred candidates.
- In the Ojokoro LCDA, the declaration of Mobolaji Sanusi as a chairmanship candidate via a faulty consensus process has caused further confusion and discontent, leading to a petition addressed to President Bola Tinubu, requesting a more inclusive and consultative approach.
- The coalition of concerned landlords, electorates, and political stakeholders in Yaba LCDA have claimed that an alleged plot to impose Babatunde Ojo as the party's chairmanship candidate is a repeat of past political impositions that have hindered development in the area.
- Party chieftain, Fouad Oki, issued a stern warning in an open letter, stating that if party managers continue to believe they know better than voters, they risk electoral backlash that could not only affect the local government elections but also future general elections, potentially impacting President Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027.
