LG polls: Fresh protests as Lagos APC sets up appeal committee

Fresh protests have erupted over the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primary in Lagos, ahead of the July 12 local government elections. Since the announcement of results at the party’s state secretariat, several aggrieved aspirants have raised allegations of imposition and manipulation, accusing party officials of sidelining popular candidates. On Monday, two […]

Fresh protests have erupted over the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primary in Lagos, ahead of the July 12 local government elections.

Since the announcement of results at the party’s state secretariat, several aggrieved aspirants have raised allegations of imposition and manipulation, accusing party officials of sidelining popular candidates.

On Monday, two groups of protesters from Olorunda Local Government Area in Badagry and Eti-Osa in Lagos Island stormed the APC secretariat to express their grievances.

Paulina Sanni, speaking on behalf of an aspirant from Eti-Osa, Wasiu Babatunde Yekini, expressed dismay over the outcome despite a clear delegate vote.

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“We had 15 delegates who voted—people we saw and confirmed—but in the end, our candidate’s name wasn’t even mentioned,” she said. She also claimed that the eventual winner had not carried out any campaign activity.

In a similar protest, Alhaja Abelewu from Olorunda LCDA said 18 delegates had voted for their preferred aspirant, Ade Balogun, but became suspicious when delegates were ordered to leave the venue while vote counting was still ongoing.

“I’m one of the delegates—we are 27 in our LG exco, and 18 of us voted for Balogun. Yet, the result announced was completely different,” she said.

Mrs Abimbola Tijani-Oladokun, a long-time aspirant for the chairmanship of Orile-Agege Local Government Area, also voiced her frustration. Contesting for the seventh time since 2007, Oladokun lamented that her aspirations had consistently been thwarted by what she described as the party’s culture of imposition.

“I’ve been a loyal party member since the AD, AC, ACN, and now APC. Each time, they tell me that ‘Asiwaju said’ a certain candidate should emerge, while I should go and work for the party,” she said. “After working tirelessly, there has been no compensation or consideration to date. Is it even true that Asiwaju said so?”

In response to the mounting discontent, the Lagos APC has inaugurated an appeal committee to review complaints from dissatisfied aspirants.

The committee is chaired by Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), who also serves as the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. Otunba Abiodun Olufowobi will serve as secretary.

Other members include former Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Jokotola Pelumi; Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi, a former lawmaker and current state party secretary; and Chief Chukwudi Adiukwu.

“We hereby advise discontented aspirants to submit their appeals to the committee no later than 12 noon on Tuesday, 13 May 2025,” the party said in a statement.