KEY POINTS

• Bariga LCDA Chairman Kolade Alabi’s collapse at an APC meeting halted critical pre-election talks, raising concerns about stress and health protocols for public officials.
• The APC’s insistence on consensus candidates faces growing opposition from aspirants demanding transparent primaries, threatening party cohesion ahead of Lagos LG polls.
• With primaries scheduled for July 12, the incident underscores the high stakes and physical toll of Nigeria’s political processes, prompting calls for systemic reforms.

Panic erupted at the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting in Ikeja on Tuesday afternoon as Kolade Alabi, Chairman of the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), slumped while addressing party leaders.

Channelstv the incident occurred around 12:10 p.m. at the APC Secretariat on Acme Road, halting discussions ahead of the July 12 local government elections.

Eyewitnesses reported that Alabi, 54, had just finished advocating for party unity when he suddenly collapsed. “He was speaking passionately about consensus candidacy, then he staggered and fell,” said a council official who requested anonymity. Attendees, including Lagos Deputy Governor Kadri Hamzat, rushed to administer first aid before Alabi was rushed to a nearby hospital.

His current condition remains undisclosed, though sources close to his family described it as “stable but requiring observation.”

The meeting, aimed at finalizing strategies for the APC’s primaries scheduled for Saturday, underscored mounting pressures within the party to avoid internal clashes. Lagos APC leaders have repeatedly urged aspirants to adopt consensus candidates for chairmanship and councillorship roles across the state’s 57 LGAs and LCDAs.

Health scare from Alabi amplifies tensions over APC’s consensus strategy

Alabi’s collapse comes amid heated debates over the APC’s push for consensus, a tactic criticized by some aspirants as favoring incumbents and stifling fair competition. “Consensus should not mean imposition. We need transparent primaries,” argued an unnamed chairmanship hopeful from Kosofe LGA. However, Deputy Governor Hamzat reiterated the party’s stance: “Unity is non-negotiable. Consensus reduces friction and strengthens our chances in the polls.”

Political analysts note that Lagos APC has historically relied on consensus to maintain dominance, winning all council seats in the 2021 elections. Yet, dissent is growing. “Younger members demand inclusivity, fearing exclusion from decision-making,” said Dr. Adebola Williams, a political scientist at the University of Lagos.

The incident also highlights health concerns among Nigerian politicians. In 2023, a senator collapsed during a plenary session, sparking calls for mandatory medical checks for public officials. Alabi, a two-term chairman, has previously championed healthcare reforms in Bariga, including free malaria screenings for residents.