The All Progressives Congress (APC) Navigates Candidate Selection for Lagos Local Government Elections
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State embarked on a complex process to select candidates for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for July 12th. The exercise, which involved primaries and consensus-building efforts, aimed to identify the most suitable individuals to represent the party in the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The process, however, was not without its challenges, marked by negotiations, withdrawals, and protests, reflecting the intense competition for political office within the party.
The APC initially held primaries on Saturday, May 27th, in Ikeja, the state capital. While the exercise produced candidates for 55 of the 57 councils, the primaries for Lagos Mainland LGA and Yaba LCDA were inconclusive, failing to yield clear outcomes. This triggered further deliberations and negotiations within the party to resolve the impasse and determine the candidates for these two remaining councils. The party’s electoral committee, headed by Babatunde Ogala, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), played a crucial role in mediating the process and facilitating consensus among the aspirants.
Ogala expressed confidence that the issues surrounding the Lagos Mainland LGA and Yaba LCDA had been resolved through consensus, emphasizing the party’s commitment to a peaceful and harmonious outcome. He highlighted the extensive engagement and negotiations that took place, leading to many aspirants voluntarily withdrawing from the race to support the party’s overall objectives. This collaborative approach, he emphasized, demonstrated the aspirants’ respect for the party and their willingness to prioritize unity and stability.
The selection process underscored the importance of consensus-building in Nigerian politics, a mechanism often employed to manage internal party dynamics and prevent protracted disputes. While consensus can foster unity and streamline decision-making, it can also raise concerns about transparency and inclusivity, particularly when perceptions of imposition arise. In the case of the Lagos APC primaries, some aggrieved members voiced their objections to the process, alleging imposition of candidates in certain areas.
The aggrieved members staged a protest on Apapa Road in Ebute Metta, Lagos Mainland, to express their dissatisfaction, later taking their grievances to Arise TV, a prominent media outlet. Their actions highlighted the tensions and underlying discontent that can emerge during internal party selection processes, especially in a politically vibrant state like Lagos. These expressions of dissent underscored the need for robust internal party democracy and transparent mechanisms for resolving disputes.
The party leadership, however, denied the allegations of imposition, maintaining that the selection process was conducted fairly and transparently. Both the APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, and the electoral committee chairman, Ogala, refuted the claims, emphasizing the party’s commitment to a democratic and inclusive process. The situation, however, revealed the delicate balance between maintaining party unity and ensuring that the candidate selection process is perceived as legitimate and representative by all stakeholders.
The Lagos APC primaries provide a microcosm of the broader challenges and dynamics within the Nigerian political landscape. The process highlighted the importance of consensus-building, the persistent concerns about internal party democracy, and the need for effective conflict resolution mechanisms. As the party moves forward with its chosen candidates, the events surrounding the primaries will likely have lasting implications for the political landscape in Lagos, particularly at the local government level. The ability of the APC to address these challenges and maintain internal cohesion will be crucial for its success in the upcoming elections.
