Lagos LG Polls: APC Stakeholders Protest Alleged Imposition Of Chairmanship Candidate

A stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos, descended into chaos on Monday as party members protested the alleged imposition of a chairmanship candidate ahead of the July 12 local government elections.

The meeting, held at 7 Ijaoye Street and intended to deliberate on party affairs, turned turbulent when aggrieved stakeholders stormed the venue, chanting slogans and rejecting the purported endorsement of a candidate named Sanusi.

Protesters accused APC leaders of attempting to impose Sanusi, who they claimed hails from Agege and lacks ties to Ojokoro. Chants of “Ole!” (thief), “Obasa should not impose chairman on us from Agege,” and “Sanusi is not from Ojokoro” echoed as tempers flared.

“We cannot accept an outsider coming to rule us here,” said one protester. “We should not allow this to happen.”

Speaking to journalists, Mr. Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye, one of the protest leaders, condemned the imposition, stressing that any legitimate chairmanship aspirant must be a grassroots politician from Ojokoro.

“Anyone vying for this office must be a resident, must have worked for the party here, and must have political roots in this council,” he said. “No one should be foisted on us by outsiders.”

Mrs. Bola Ojetayo also voiced her opposition, accusing the party hierarchy of prioritizing political alliances over community interests.

“We must not sell out Ojokoro,” she said. “It is unacceptable for people in Agege to decide who becomes our chairman.”

In response, Mr. James Owolabi, a former member of the House of Representatives and one of the meeting’s conveners, called for calm.

“Your protest has been heard. You are free to express concerns within the party, but we must avoid violence,” he urged.

Despite the disruption, the meeting was attended by key APC figures, including Ojokoro APC Chairman Jelili Oseni, former Lagos Assembly member Ipoola Omisore, and Amosu Aminu.

The protest underscores rising internal tensions within the APC ahead of the upcoming local government elections, as the party grapples with balancing grassroots interests against broader political maneuvering.