A major crisis erupted on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, as angry party members staged a protest over the alleged imposition of a chairmanship candidate by party leaders.
The meeting, which was held at 7, Ijaoye Street, Ojokoro, and began around 4:00 p.m., was initially peaceful before chaos broke out. Protesters disrupted the gathering, accusing some party leaders, including the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, of trying to force an outsider from Agege on the people of Ojokoro.
Chanting slogans like “Ole!” (thief), “We can’t take it,” and “Obasa can’t control us from Agege,” the protesters made their anger known. Other chants included, “Who knows Sanusi?” and “We won’t allow a stranger rule us here.”
The protesters claimed that the meeting’s purpose was not to seek consensus but to rubber-stamp the candidacy of someone who had no connection to Ojokoro and had not contributed to the party’s growth at the grassroots level.
Mr. Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye, one of the protest leaders, said that the alleged candidate being imposed had no roots in the community and had never participated in local politics.
“A chairmanship aspirant must be someone who lives here, has worked for the party, and is known to the people. You can’t just bring someone from another area and expect us to accept it,” Akinoso-Olawaye said.
He insisted that all aspirants deserve a fair and open contest and warned that forcing a candidate on the people could backfire on the APC in the upcoming local government elections.
“We are here to reject imposition. Let everyone who wants to contest come out and prove their worth. That is democracy,” he added.
The protest comes just three months before the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) conducts the local government elections, scheduled for July 12, 2025. These elections are crucial for the APC, which currently controls most councils in Lagos State.
Ojokoro LCDA, located in the Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos, has long been a stronghold of the ruling APC. However, internal wrangling and allegations of favoritism have threatened to divide the party’s base ahead of the polls.
Party sources say no fewer than 18 aspirants are eyeing the council chairmanship ticket in Ojokoro. Many of them were present at the protest with their supporters, demanding a level playing field.
Also speaking at the protest was Mrs. Bola Ojetayo, another vocal leader in the community. She warned party elders against ignoring the wishes of the grassroots, stating that people would resist any candidate imposed from outside.
“We must not sell our seat to outsiders. A stranger cannot come and lead us in our own home,” she said. “Leaders cannot sit somewhere else and decide for us. Someone from Agege has no business ruling Ojokoro.”
Ojetayo noted that the protest was not just about one individual but about the larger issue of internal democracy within the APC.
“This is a message to all party leaders: respect the people’s voice or risk losing their support,” she said.
In the face of the rising tension, several APC chieftains who attended the meeting called for calm and urged members to express their grievances peacefully.
Mr. James Owolabi, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency, acknowledged the legitimacy of the protesters’ concerns but urged them not to allow their anger to turn into violence.
“You all have a voice in this party. Please express yourselves without violence. Let us handle things the right way,” Owolabi advised.
He added that the APC must learn to carry everyone along and avoid actions that could weaken the party ahead of the elections.
Other notable figures present at the meeting included Mr. Jelili Oseni, the current chairman of the council; Mr. Ipoola Omisore, a former Lagos State Assembly member; Alhaji Amosu Aminu; Chief Oriyomi Olaogun; and Mr. Akindele Aremu.
While none of the accused party leaders publicly addressed the crowd, it was clear that the protest had disrupted the original agenda of the meeting. Many attendees left the venue amid continued chants and heated discussions outside the compound.
The APC has maintained control over Lagos State since the return to democracy in 1999, but internal conflicts over candidate selection are not new. Allegations of imposition have repeatedly caused rifts within the party during primary elections, especially at the local government level.
In previous election cycles, party elders have often been accused of handpicking candidates, sidelining grassroots supporters. Such issues have led to internal rebellions, and in some cases, defections to opposition parties.
Observers say the tension in Ojokoro is just a reflection of a wider challenge the APC faces in maintaining unity while preparing for the local government elections in July.
The LASIEC timetable indicates that party primaries and candidate submissions must be completed by the end of May, leaving little time for the APC to resolve internal disputes.
As of the time of filing this report, it remains unclear whether the APC leadership in Lagos will intervene in the Ojokoro crisis. Party insiders suggest that pressure is mounting on top leaders to ensure free and fair primaries in all 57 local government areas and LCDAs.
Residents of Ojokoro are watching closely, with many warning that any attempt to impose a candidate could lead to protest votes or low turnout.
For now, the APC appears to be walking a tightrope in Ojokoro—balancing internal power struggles with the need to retain public trust ahead of crucial local government elections.
