Paragraph 1: The Genesis of the Dispute
The tranquility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State was shattered in the aftermath of the party’s primary elections held on May 10, 2025. These primaries, designed to select candidates for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for July 12, 2025, became the epicenter of a fierce power struggle, particularly in the Agege and Orile-Agege constituencies. The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of Agege and Orile-Agege, a faction within the APC, openly challenged the results of the primaries, accusing the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and his allies of manipulating the process. This set the stage for a public confrontation that threatened to destabilize the party’s unity.
Paragraph 2: The PCC’s Accusations of Manipulation and Intimidation
The PCC, led by spokesperson Adetunji Akinyemi and chairman Sabitu Kamorudeen, organized a large protest at Blue Roof, Agege, to voice their grievances. Their accusations were pointed and direct, alleging that Obasa, through a network of loyalists, had effectively hijacked the local political landscape. They claimed that Obasa’s control over local government executives and ward officers, who constituted the voting delegates, allowed him to predetermine the outcome of the primaries. They further contended that this structure, built on patronage, intimidation, and fear, systematically silenced dissenting voices and prevented genuine competition.
Paragraph 3: Disenfranchisement and Suppression of Aspiring Candidates
The PCC’s allegations extended beyond mere control of the delegate system. They claimed that many of their aspirants were denied fundamental rights to participate in the primary process. Nomination forms were allegedly withheld, endorsements refused, and threats and coercion employed to suppress their ambitions. This, they argued, created an environment where a fair and credible outcome was impossible. The PCC’s protest, marked by placards and banners denouncing Obasa’s alleged grip on power, became a public display of their discontent and a call for intervention from higher party authorities.
Paragraph 4: Obasa’s Camp Rebuts Allegations of Imposition
In response to the PCC’s accusations, a pro-Obasa group, including prominent figures like Alhaji Jubril Kareem, Dr. Wale Ahmed, and Afolabi Tajudeen, issued a strong rebuttal. They characterized the primaries as free and fair, dismissing the claims of imposition as the disgruntled complaints of "sore losers." This group, identifying themselves as the legitimate leaders of the APC in Agege and Orile-Agege, argued that the PCC members had distanced themselves from the party’s activities and therefore had no grounds to contest the results.
Paragraph 5: Justification of the Primary Process and Disqualification of Complainants
The pro-Obasa group defended the adopted consensus or delegate voting system, emphasizing that the party’s local government executives, constituted four years prior, were the legitimate voters. They implied that the PCC members, having absented themselves from party activities during that period, had effectively forfeited their right to participate or challenge the outcome. Their statement suggested that the PCC’s complaints stemmed from a lack of understanding of the party’s structure and their own marginalization within it.
Paragraph 6: Wider Protests and Implications for the APC
The dispute in Agege and Orile-Agege was not an isolated incident. Protests also erupted in other parts of Lagos, including Somolu, Third Mainland Bridge, and Ikeja, indicating widespread dissatisfaction with the primary election process. These protests underscore the deep divisions within the Lagos APC and raise concerns about the party’s ability to maintain unity heading into the local government elections. The PCC’s call for intervention from the state and national leadership of the APC signals the seriousness of the situation and the potential for further escalation if their grievances are not addressed. The unfolding events highlight the challenges faced by political parties in managing internal democracy and the potential consequences of perceived manipulation of electoral processes.
