Chilaka blasts APC over Lagos LG primaries, demands transparent rerun

DDM News

Political analyst and commentator Prince Francis Chilaka has condemned the recent APC Lagos local government primaries.

He described the exercise as a sham orchestrated to favor handpicked candidates backed by influential figures in the party, Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathers.

Chilaka criticized the APC’s use of what he called a “consensus charade.”

He alleged that the party only pretends to hold democratic primaries while secretly selecting loyal candidates behind closed doors.

According to him, the process lacks transparency and undermines the principle of grassroots participation in local governance.

Chilaka emphasized that relocating ballot papers away from polling stations raises serious questions about electoral integrity.

“You organize an election and carry the ballot papers to another place to count them,” he said.

“You’re supposed to count it in front of the delegates and announce the result there,” he added.

He argued that moving ballots is a deliberate act designed to manipulate the results in favor of certain candidates.

“That’s not democracy, that’s rigging,” Chilaka said bluntly during the interview.

The analyst called on the APC to cancel the results and organize a transparent and credible rerun of the primaries.

He insisted that the party must ensure openness, fairness, and genuine delegate involvement in any fresh primary process.

Chilaka’s comments come amid public outcry over electoral misconduct and lack of credibility in internal party elections.

He warned that manipulating local primaries threatens democratic foundations and diminishes citizens’ trust in governance structures.

According to Chilaka, democracy must begin at the grassroots where people feel the impact of leadership the most.

He said compromised primaries rob people of the opportunity to choose credible leaders in their local communities.

“The grassroots is where democracy is supposed to be strongest,” Chilaka emphasized passionately.

“When you compromise elections at that level, you erode the people’s power,” he added.

His remarks have sparked renewed calls for internal party reforms and better electoral accountability in Nigeria.

Many observers agree that internal democracy is essential for building strong democratic institutions across the country.

They argue that primary elections must reflect the will of party members rather than elite political interests.

Chilaka’s position reflects widespread frustration among Nigerians over the manipulation of party processes by political godfathers.

He urged party leaders to embrace reform and prioritize transparency ahead of future general elections.

The APC has not officially responded to Chilaka’s comments or addressed the concerns raised about the primary process.

However, the controversy continues to fuel debate about political accountability and party democracy nationwide.

Chilaka’s bold stance may encourage more stakeholders to demand fairness and openness in all levels of election.

Kindly share!!

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook