LAGOS—Fresh tensions erupted in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Tuesday as scores of All Progressives Congress (APC) members staged a protest over the alleged imposition of Mr. Adebayo Adefuye as the party’s chairmanship candidate for the July 12 local government elections.
The protest, which coincided with the flag-off ceremony for APC candidates across Lagos State, spotlighted growing internal dissent within the party, particularly in Yaba LCDA where stakeholders say Adefuye lacks local ties and legitimacy.
Protesters from several wards marched from Adekunle Roundabout to the Sabo area, wielding placards with inscriptions such as “Adebayo is an Alien,” “Yaba Rejects Adefuye,” and “Asiwaju, Save Our Soul.”
Leading the protest, Mr. Ismail Olorunimbe, an APC chieftain from Ward C, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and other party leaders to intervene. He alleged that Adefuye, originally from Somolu Local Government, had earlier been rejected there and is now being imposed on Yaba LCDA despite having no political, economic, or residential links to the community.
“This is an insult to the loyal APC members in Yaba who have worked tirelessly for the party,” Olorunimbe said. “There were 13 qualified aspirants from this area. Yet, someone unfamiliar to our people is being forced on us. We will not accept it.”
He further criticised the selection process as lacking transparency and grassroots input, warning that the move could weaken APC’s support base ahead of the elections.
Also speaking, Mrs. Rasidat Ojoobaro, a senior party member, cautioned that continued neglect of members’ concerns could lead to frustration and “self-help.” Mrs. Tayo Funsho echoed her concerns, urging the party to respect the will of its grassroots supporters.
The protest adds to the string of tensions that have marred preparations for the upcoming local elections. Notably, primaries held on May 10 failed to produce candidates in Yaba LCDA and Lagos Mainland due to ongoing legal disputes, creating room for political maneuvering.
As of press time, the APC leadership has not issued an official statement regarding the protest.
With less than a month to the polls, the unrest in Yaba LCDA poses a major test for the APC’s internal democracy and ability to manage internal dissent.
