Some members of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress have welcomed the party’s fresh move to reconcile with aggrieved aspirants for chairmanship and councillorship positions in the forthcoming July 12 local government election.
The PUNCH reports that the state chapter of the APC has been embroiled in crisis as aggrieved members continue to protest the primaries conducted by the party on May 10, 2025, at its Lagos headquarters.
Despite the leadership of the party maintaining that it held a successful primary to produce candidates for the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas, some members faulted the consensus process adopted.
On Tuesday, the party inaugurated a reconciliation committee to resolve all conflicts and dissatisfaction in the aftermath of the primary.
This was contained in a statement by the chapter’s spokesperson, Oluseye Oladejo.
According to him, the party had resolved to end its internal conflicts to form a united force for the forthcoming election.
Oladejo said, “The committee has been decentralised for ease of operation and to deliver on its mandate on time.
“The Lagos East Senatorial is headed by Dr Lateef Ibirogba. Other members are Saheed Afonja, Sumbo Onitiri and Sade Bakare.
“The Lagos Central Senatorial District is headed by a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Chief Sarah Sosan. Other members are Funso Ologunde, Adedoyin Banjo and Adigun Olalekan.
“The Lagos West 1 Senatorial District is headed by Otunba Bode Oyedele. Other members are Chief Jide Damazio, Alhaji Aleshinloye and Comfort Olalere. Lagos West 2 Senatorial District is headed by Alh. Mutiu Are. Other members are Hon. Jumoke Okoya, Otunba Kehinde Adeniyi and Adeola Rashidat.”
The spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Council, a factional APC group in Agege and Orile Agege, Bamofin Akinyemi, in a telephone interview on Tuesday, said the development was welcome.
Akinyemi, who has been outspoken against the outcome of the LG primary as it concerns Agege and Orile Agege, said, “I believe in the leadership of the party, but what we are talking about is that every local government has its peculiarity.”
Akinyemi recalled that his group had earlier submitted a petition to the appeal committee set up by the party.
“We expected that there should be a report of that committee, which we understand had been submitted to the party’s leadership, but perhaps was not made public.
“Moving forward, there is a reconciliatory committee. For me, I want to believe in the party. I want to believe in that committee,” he said.
When asked if he had confidence in the committee, he said, “I want to believe for now. I have not been called, nor has my leader been called.”
On her part, a female aspirant for the chairmanship seat in Lagos Mainland LG, Kafayat Agusto-Momoh, said the reconciliatory move was a good idea.
“It’s a good idea. I believe in our leadership in the APC, it will work perfectly. I believe in the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, she’s always clamouring for women’s inclusion,” the aspirant said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
She, however, lamented the alleged exclusion of women in the council politics.
She said, “It has been the tradition of Lagos Mainland, they always underrate and overlook aspiring women in my community, but I believe we can do it here. This tradition has come to an end, we need a total transformation.
“As the sole female aspirant for chairmanship in the Lagos Mainland, I believe I will emerge victorious because I’m dedicated and committed to serving my community.”(Punch)
