KEY POINTS

• APC primaries in Lagos Mainland and Yaba collapsed amid conflicting “consensus” candidate lists and protests over alleged imposition by party elites.

• Litigation and factional disputes forced suspension of elections, with Lagos APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi denying any consensus had been reached.

• Protests and public criticism highlighted growing frustration with the APC’s candidate selection process, raising concerns about democratic integrity ahead of local elections.

Tensions flared across Lagos Mainland and Yaba on Saturday as the All Progressives Congress, APC, attempted to conduct chairmanship and councillorship primaries, only for the process to collapse amid accusations of candidate imposition and internal sabotage.

MSN reports that Multiple “consensus lists” emerged hours before voting, sparking outrage among party members and triggering protests outside the APC secretariat in Ikeja.

Eyewitnesses reported that delegates arriving at the APC Secretariat on ACME Road found empty halls, with party officials offering no clarity on the delayed process.

At least four conflicting lists for Lagos Mainland circulated, naming different candidates for chairman and vice chairman. One list proposed Adekunle Ademoye as chairman, while others included Gbadegesin Lateef, Amodu Sheu, and Ayodeji Rilwan Tinubu—a name that drew attention due to its resemblance to President Bola Tinubu’s family.

“This is a deliberate attempt to sideline grassroots voices,” said a party member who requested anonymity. “They want to handpick loyalists instead of allowing democratic elections.”

Protests ignite as party loyalists decry “undemocratic practices”

Dozens of APC supporters staged simultaneous protests in Lagos Mainland and Yaba, blocking major roads and chanting slogans against alleged interference by “Lagos political godfathers.” Demonstrators accused state party leaders of bypassing due process to impose preferred candidates, a claim reinforced by the absence of primaries in both LGAs.

Lagos APC Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi confirmed the suspension of elections, citing unresolved litigation and internal disputes. “No consensus candidates have emerged for Lagos Mainland or Yaba,” he insisted, though he declined to specify when primaries would resume. Legal analysts note that factional lawsuits, often tied to rival aspirants, have become a recurring hurdle for APC primaries in Lagos, a party stronghold since 1999.

Political analyst Dr. Ngozi Eze described the chaos as symptomatic of deeper factionalism. “The APC’s dominance in Lagos has long relied on tightly controlled candidate selection. But with competing power blocs, this strategy is backfiring,” she said.

The controversy follows weeks of rumors about backroom deals involving state officials and influential party financiers. A leaked memo last week hinted at pressure to favor candidates linked to certain business interests, though the APC has denied these claims. Meanwhile, the delay risks derailing the party’s campaign timeline, with local elections scheduled for late June.