Breaking: Protests rock Lagos Mainland, Yaba over APC primaries

DDM News

Tensions rose in Lagos on Sunday as aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took to the streets in protest.

The protesters voiced strong opposition to what they described as the imposition of chairmanship candidates in the Lagos Mainland Local Government and Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The demonstration started on Apapa Road in Ebute Metta and eventually moved to the headquarters of Arise Television in Victoria Island.

Protesters accused local APC leaders of sidelining other aspirants in favour of preferred candidates without conducting transparent primaries.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) learned that while the APC held primaries in all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in the state, issues arose only in Lagos Mainland and Yaba.

In most areas, candidates emerged through consensus or indirect voting.

However, the primary process in Lagos Mainland and Yaba reportedly collapsed due to disagreements among stakeholders.

One of the protesters, Taorid Owolabi, declared that the party leadership falsely claimed a consensus had been reached.

He explained that aspirants in the affected LG and LCDA had engaged in several consultations without reaching any agreement.

According to him, the claims of consensus were a deliberate attempt to impose candidates on party members.

He insisted that the State Working Committee should reschedule the primaries for Lagos Mainland and Yaba.

Owolabi also called for a review of the primary guidelines to reflect the unique political circumstances in both areas.

He emphasized the need for compliance with the Electoral Act, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission regulations, and the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He warned that the imposition of candidates would be challenged in court if necessary.

Another protester, Sodeeq Olawepo, echoed these concerns and pointed to an existing lawsuit over the controversy.

He revealed that Suit No. ID/8948GCM/2025 had been filed at the Lagos State High Court.

According to him, the crisis could weaken the party’s local structures and harm its prospects in future elections.

He called on APC stakeholders to step in and resolve the conflict before it escalates further.

He stressed that the unresolved primary crisis could negatively affect the APC’s performance in the upcoming local government elections.

He added that the crisis could also spill over into the 2027 general elections if not addressed promptly.

More than 50 chairmanship candidates have already emerged from the APC primaries across the state.

These selections were reportedly made during the primary process held at the party’s secretariat on Acme Road in Ikeja.

Despite this progress, the unresolved issues in Lagos Mainland and Yaba continue to stir internal unrest.

Party loyalists argue that the failure to address grievances may alienate grassroots supporters.

Analysts warn that persistent internal conflicts could damage the APC’s reputation as a democratic party.

The APC has previously faced accusations of candidate imposition during internal party elections.

Such disputes have often led to legal battles and weakened unity within the party’s ranks.

The current unrest adds to the growing list of internal challenges confronting the ruling party in Lagos State.

Observers are closely monitoring how the APC leadership will respond to the crisis.

There is a growing expectation that the leadership must act swiftly to restore peace and credibility to the primary process.

Failure to do so may lead to further legal entanglements and a loss of public trust.

As the legal case proceeds, all eyes remain on the party’s next steps and their implications for the 2025 local government polls.

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