The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State is facing strong backlash from within its ranks following its May 10, 2025, primary elections ahead of the upcoming July 12 council polls. What was expected to showcase the party’s strength and cohesion has instead sparked widespread protests and allegations of manipulation, exclusion, and abuse of internal processes.
In what many party faithful described as a flawed exercise, aggrieved aspirants claimed they were denied participation, had nomination forms withheld, and were sidelined in favour of favoured candidates. The discontent was visible across several locations in Lagos, including Agege, Somolu, and Ikeja, where hundreds took to the streets with placards that read: “Our votes don’t count” and “Justice for APC aspirants.”
At the heart of the tension was the claim that the primary process was hijacked by entrenched political interests. Aspirants who lost out said the exercise was marred by imposition and fraud, warning that the manipulation could damage the party’s credibility.
One of the most prominent flashpoints was Agege and Orile-Agege, where the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) clashed with supporters of Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. The PCC, which led a protest at Blue Roof in Agege, rejected the emergence of Alhaji Tunde Azeez and Akinola Abiodun as chairmanship candidates, accusing Obasa of monopolising power and manipulating the system.
“The outcome was not a reflection of due process, but a culmination of manipulation and exclusion,” said PCC spokesperson Adetunji Akinyemi, who warned that the dominance of one man over the political structure in Agege had disenfranchised reform-minded members.
Similar complaints surfaced in Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, where the Ebony Campaign Team accused the party of electoral malpractice after their candidate, Idowu Daramola, allegedly scored 17 out of 25 votes but was controversially awarded zero.
In response, allies of Speaker Obasa described the claims as baseless. Alhaji Owolabi Dada, the first Executive Chairman of Agege LGA, defended the process, stating that the primaries followed the party’s consensus and delegate system. He dismissed the aggrieved aspirants as “sore losers” who had long distanced themselves from the party’s grassroots structure.
Despite the controversy, some candidates secured unopposed victories, including Motunrayo Gbadebo (Ijede LCDA), Abiola Jubril (Iba LCDA), and Rasak Kasali (Lekki LCDA). Others, like Moyosore Ogunlewe (Kosofe) and Kehinde Oloyede (Oshodi-Isolo), clinched second-term tickets.
However, five candidates defeated sitting council chairmen to win the APC ticket: Azeez Ogidan (Coker Aguda), Abiodun Ishola Jimoh (Agbado-Oke Odo), Moyo Adebanjo (Onigbongbo), Agbaje Abiodun (Ayobo Ipaja), and Samson Agunbiade (Eti-Osa East). Some prominent figures, including LAGFERRY boss Ladi Balogun and former LASAA MD Mobolaji Sanusi, lost out.
The disputed outcome has raised questions about the party’s internal democracy and the growing influence of powerful figures. Political analyst Abimbola Bankole warned that ignoring the voices of aggrieved members could damage the party’s image and cohesion.
“Even President Tinubu opposed consensus in 2022, insisting on a primary that eventually led to his victory. Why should the process in Lagos be different?” she asked.
With Lagos in the national spotlight due to the president’s origin, stakeholders have urged the APC to put its house in order. In a bid to address the grievances, the party inaugurated an appeal committee headed by Lagos Attorney-General Lawal Pedro (SAN) to investigate the complaints and ensure justice is served.
