The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State faces mounting internal unrest ahead of its local government primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 10. The party’s decision to adopt a consensus approach for selecting chairmanship and councillorship candidates has sparked widespread discontent among aspirants and stakeholders.
On Friday morning when TheWest Newspaper visited the party’s secretariat along Acme Road, Ogba, numerous aspirants converged to submit formal letters of withdrawal from the primaries. Security personnel were observed restricting access to the premises, permitting only those submitting withdrawal letters to enter, while barring party staff and other individuals.
The party had previously indicated that aspirants who step down in favour of consensus candidates might receive refunds of their nomination fees, a move that appears to have influenced the mass withdrawals. However, the APC has not officially confirmed this policy.
Despite assurances from party leaders that the consensus approach is voluntary and that indirect primaries will be conducted in areas where consensus is not achieved, many aspirants remain skeptical. Some have accused the party leadership of imposing candidates, citing instances where aspirants and party chieftains drop names of influential figures, including President Bola Tinubu, to justify the imposition of candidates. The age-long practice is known as ‘Baba Sope’ in Lagos politics.
In Yaba Local Council Development Area, for example, youths under the banner of Concerned Youths of Yaba LCDA have rejected the alleged nomination of Joseph Ojo as the consensus chairmanship candidate, arguing that his candidacy was not endorsed by party stakeholders and other aspirants.
The APC Electoral Committee had earlier cleared 432 chairmanship aspirants out of 470 applicants, with 38 either disqualified or voluntarily withdrawing. The primaries are set to proceed with indirect voting by designated delegates.
As the party navigates internal challenges ahead of the local government elections, the effectiveness of the consensus strategy remains to be seen. Observers will be watching closely to assess its impact on party unity and electoral success.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has scheduled the local government elections for July 12, 2025. The APC leadership continues to urge aspirants and members to prioritize the party’s unity and success in the upcoming elections. However, the unfolding events suggest that achieving consensus may be more challenging than anticipated.
