APC members revolt against party, reject candidate imposition ahead of Lagos LGA poll

Tensions flared in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State on Tuesday as members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) staged a protest over the alleged imposition of candidates for the upcoming July 12 local government election.

The demonstration, which began at the APC secretariat, saw supporters of various chairmanship aspirants marching to the council headquarters, chanting slogans and carrying placards expressing their disapproval of what they described as an attempt to foist an “outsider” on the community.

Chants of “No room for strangers in our LCDA,” “We want an indigenous leader,” and “Don’t sell Ojokoro to outsiders” echoed through the protest, while placards bore inscriptions such as “We demand a free and fair process,” “Hon. Ojelabi, save APC Ojokoro,” and “Obasa is forcing a stranger on us.”

This marks the second protest within a month, following an earlier disruption of a stakeholders’ meeting in the area on April 14 over the same issue.

Speaking during the protest, Mr. Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye, a party leader, urged APC leadership not to ratify any imposed candidate, calling instead for transparent primaries.

“Let all aspirants go to the field. We are APC members, not thugs. But we reject imposition in any form. We won’t let strangers take over what we’ve built,” he said.

Mrs. Raimot Bello, another protest leader, emphasized the need for familiar leadership rooted in the community, warning that forcing unfamiliar figures on the people could fracture party unity.

Other participants, including Alhaji Karimu Yusuf and Prophet Kayode, echoed similar concerns, alleging that party leaders had finalized plans to impose a “stranger” as the next council chairman.

Addressing the crowd, Ojokoro LCDA Chairman Mr. Hammed Tijani assured protesters that the selection process was still ongoing and promised that no candidate would be imposed.

“We are one party. I assure you, there is no imposition,” he said.

Supporting his remarks, the APC chairman in the council, Mr. Jelili Oseni, added: “Ojokoro will not be dragged into violence. Those who have worked for the party will be rewarded fairly.”

The protest coincided with a meeting of party leaders at the council secretariat, including former Lagos State Assembly member Mr. Ipoola Omisore and ex-House of Representatives member Mr. James Owolabi.