Aggrieved Lagos APC Aspirants Deny Speaker Obasa’s Involvement In Primary Election Protests, Demand Review Of Results

Some aggrieved aspirants who participated in the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly primary elections have denied allegations that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, sponsored their recent protest against the outcome of the exercise.

The aspirants, operating under the umbrella of the Body of Lagos APC Aggrieved House of Representatives and House of Assembly Aspirants, described attempts to link Obasa to the demonstration as “mischievous, baseless and distracting.”

The group, in a statement jointly signed by nine aspirants, maintained that the protest was a legitimate and peaceful expression of dissatisfaction over what they described as discrepancies between the actual outcomes of the primaries and the results eventually announced by party officials.

“Our attention has been drawn to the malicious, unfounded, and deliberately misleading allegations being circulated in certain quarters that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, sponsored the peaceful protest recently staged by aggrieved aspirants who participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives and House of Assembly primaries in Lagos State,” the statement said.

The aspirants added that the allegations were designed to divert attention from the core issues that prompted the protest.

“We wish to categorically state that such allegations are false, baseless, and intended to divert attention from the substantive issues that gave rise to the protest.

“The demonstration, which involved aspirants and their supporters from various constituencies and federal constituencies across the state, was a spontaneous expression of dissatisfaction by party members who believe that the results eventually declared did not reflect the outcomes recorded during the primary elections,” the statement added.

According to the group, the protesters raised concerns over alleged manipulation of results, distortion of voting outcomes, cheating and what they described as a disregard for APC guidelines governing the conduct of the primaries.

They argued that the grievances were genuine and reflected the concerns of party members who invested considerable resources and political capital in the electoral process with the expectation of fairness and transparency.

The aspirants further stressed that party members have a constitutional and democratic right to peacefully express their grievances.

“It is important to emphasize that it remains the constitutional and democratic right of party members to peacefully and lawfully express their grievances through established channels.

“To suggest that thousands of committed APC members and supporters required sponsorship before voicing their frustrations is not only insulting to their intelligence but also dismissive of the genuine concerns they have raised,” they said.

The group accused unnamed individuals of attempting to use Obasa as a scapegoat rather than addressing the issues raised by the protesters.

“Rather than addressing the issues at the heart of the protest, some individuals have chosen the convenient path of scapegoating and attempting to drag the name of Rt. Hon. Dr. Mudashiru Obasa into a matter in which he played no role.

“Such futile attempts are clearly designed to trivialise legitimate complaints and shift public attention away from the need for justice, reconciliation and party unity,” the statement added.

The aspirants urged the APC leadership to focus on resolving disputes arising from the primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

They maintained that addressing the complaints of aggrieved aspirants would strengthen confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes and help preserve unity within the ruling party.

“As we approach the 2027 general elections, the leadership of our party must remain focused on resolving all outstanding issues arising from the primaries. The APC’s greatest strength has always been its ability to accommodate differing opinions, correct internal shortcomings, and emerge stronger through dialogue and fairness,” the statement noted.

The group also called on party leaders and stakeholders to avoid politicising the concerns raised by dissatisfied aspirants and instead pursue lasting solutions capable of preserving party cohesion and electoral success.

The statement was signed by Hon. Kolawole Taiwo (Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency), Hon. Seye Oladejo (Mushin Federal Constituency), Hon. Ganiyu Ayuba (Alimosho Federal Constituency), Hon. Noheem Adams (Eti-Osa II), Hon. Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode (Oshodi-Isolo I), Hon. Apata Olu Samuel (Somolu II), Hon. Ganiyu Egunjobi (Agege I), Hon. Abiodun Azeez Ninolowo (Agege II), and Hon. Doherty Olukoya David (Amuwo-Odofin II).