Controversy has erupted within the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) over the just-concluded chairmanship primaries ahead of the June 12 Local Government elections, as aggrieved groups have alleged widespread imposition of candidates.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has scheduled the elections for July 12, covering 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The APC’s Electoral Committee had earlier cleared 432 chairmanship aspirants from a total of 470 nominees for the primary election. At the end of the exercise, 55 chairmanship candidates emerged victorious, including relatives of prominent party figures, such as the Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat’s sibling and the son of former Minister of Works, Segun Ogulewe.
The primary election, held under tight security at the party’s Secretariat in ACME, Ogba, was supervised by Electoral Committee Chairman Babatunde Ogala (SAN). Despite the controlled setting, two LCDAs—Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA—abstained from voting due to unresolved internal crises.
The Yaba LCDA boycott followed protests led by the Concerned Youth of Yaba, rejecting the nomination of Joseph Ojo as the party’s choice.
During the primaries, five incumbent council chairmen failed to secure second-term bids, including those from Coker Aguda, Agbado Oke-Odo, Onigbongbo, Ayobo-Ipaja, and Eti-Osa. Among the notable upsets was Rakiat Hassan of Onigbongbo LCDA, who lost to Moyo Adebanjo, and Ladi Oluwaloni of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, who was defeated by Agbaje Abiodun.
In Eti-Osa East, Samson Agunbiade reclaimed the council seat after losing to John Ogundare in the previous election cycle.
Ogala, while announcing the results, stated that several candidates emerged through consensus and delegate affirmation, including:
Isa Jubril (Iba LCDA)
Motunrayo Gbadebo (Ijede LCDA)
Rasaq Kasali (Lekki LCDA)
Azeez Kareem (Otto Awori LCDA)
He further declared Usman Hamzat as the candidate for Ifako-Ijaiye LG, and Hameed Aroyehun for Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, among others.
Protests Rock the Primaries:
Expectedly, the announcement of the results was met with protests in some councils, where aspirants and community groups rejected the outcomes.
At Onigbongbo LCDA, Barr. Olufunke Rekiya Hassan, the incumbent chairman, described the declaration of Moyosore Adebanjo as rumour, denouncing the process as a “kangaroo imposition.”
“The charade that took place at the APC state secretariat was a mere smokescreen that can neither stand the test of morality nor judicial scrutiny. It is a dance of shame and an attempt at oppression that will not be allowed to stand. I reject the whole process in its entirety. Justice shall and must prevail,” she stated.
Similar dissent was recorded in Amuwo-Odofin LGA, where a group known as the Progressives rejected the declared winner, citing external influence from Abuja.
“We are emphasizing uncompromisingly that we will resist any attempt to impose an Executive Chairman selected from Abuja or any external power structure. Such undemocratic interference is a direct insult to the will of the people and an assault on the very foundation of grassroots governance,” the group stated in a protest letter.
They demanded that community-driven leadership should prevail, rooted in “transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness.”
YP Chairmanship Candidate Adio Kicks:
Meanwhile, Ayodele Adio, the Youth Party (YP) Chairmanship Candidate for Eti-Osa LGA, has insisted that LASIEC cannot legally conduct elections in the 37 LCDAs since they are not constitutionally recognized.
“You mentioned that elections would hold in 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs. That is illegal because the LCDAs are not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Adio said.
He referenced legislative efforts by Jimi Benson and Faleke to amend the constitution for the recognition of the 37 LCDAs, noting that without such legal backing, conducting elections in these areas remains unconstitutional.
“President Bola Tinubu created these LCDAs, yet in his two years as President, no federal allocations have been sent to them because they are not constitutionally recognized. Why are we perpetuating this gross and brazen illegality?” Adio questioned.
The situation has left the APC Lagos chapter grappling with protests, legal uncertainties, and internal conflicts ahead of the scheduled July 12 elections.
VANGUARD
