There is growing disconnect within the ranks of All Progressives Congress (APC) following the attempt by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa to foist his preferred candidates in Agege Local Government Area as the jostle for council elections revs into gear.
Last Friday, the state Independent Electoral Commission announced that the council election will hold on 12 July.
The tension revolves around the reported attempt by Obasa to impose candidates in Agege, especially Orile Agege.
Obasa’s move has sparked widespread discontent among loyal party members, who feel sidelined and disrespected by the top-down approach. These grassroots mobilisers have been instrumental in APC’s past victories, but are now questioning the party’s internal democracy.
There is fear that if Obasa’s actions are not reversed, the APC risks facing internal disunity and electoral defeat in the LCDA as disgruntled party members might may withhold support for the party’s candidates or even vote opposition candidates.
The people of Orile Agege Local Council Development Area are urging Obasa to respect the democratic process and allow free, fair, and transparent primary election. The state and national leaderships are also being called upon to intervene and prevent individual interests from jeopardising the party’s chances.
To salvage the situation, they said that Obasa must retract his steps and allow fair and open democratic process to determine the party’s candidates. They said: ‘He must respect the voice of the people and ensure that the most popular and competent candidates emerge through transparent primary elections.
‘The future of the APC in Orile Agege hangs in the balance, and it is imperative that the party prioritises internal democracy and the will of the people’.
