‘Ojelabi Must Go’, APC Members Demand Removal of Lagos Chairman

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State on Monday protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding removal of the state chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi. The protest was hinged on the alleged planned imposition of appointees at the 20 Local Government Areas (LGA) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) of the […]

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State on Monday protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding removal of the state chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi.

The protest was hinged on the alleged planned imposition of appointees at the 20 Local Government Areas (LGA) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) of the state.

The demonstrators said to be representatives from all 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state, in large numbers, were seen chanting slogans and carrying placards with various inscriptions.

Some of the inscriptions read: “Ojelabi Must Go,” “Faleke is a Betrayer” and “Ojelabi, Mr Voters Apathy.”

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Daily Trust reports that protest attracted significant attention and led to heightened security around the Assembly complex.

Security operatives were deployed to maintain peace and prevent any outbreak of violence.

The Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who got to the scene with his entourage, was unable to address the protesting APC members.

The leader of the protesters, Segun Faleye, who submitted a letter on behalf of the group, said party members could no longer condone the “excesses” andof the party’s chairman.

Faleye accused Ojelabi of mismanaging the recently concluded Local Government elections, where he allegedly assembled a biased team to conduct what he described as “the worst primary election” in the history of Lagos State.

According to Faleye, for the first time since the advent of the Fourth Republic, the Ojelabi-led party lost Lagos State to the opposition in the 2023 presidential election.

“This electoral disaster was followed by a shabby performance in the recently concluded local government elections.

“We are tired of his selfish leadership and the plot of his team to derail from the progressive ideals championed by President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

Reacting, the spokesperson of APC, Seye Oladejo, said, “Peaceful protests are a legitimate feature of civic engagement, and we commend those who have conducted themselves calmly and orderly.”

He reassured the protesters that the selection of cabinet members for the 20 Local Government Councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas will follow the laid down rules and the internal party guidelines and the proposition by local leadership of the party after due consultations.

“The party hereby vehemently denies any allegation to impose nomination on any local government. We want to advise interested members to approach their local leadership who are the custodians of the powers to nominate,” he said.