Lagos State APC Rejects Claims of Candidate Imposition Ahead of Legislative Elections
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly rejected allegations that it plans to impose candidates for the upcoming legislative elections, describing the accusations as baseless and intended to create unnecessary tension within the party.
In a statement issued on Thursday, state chairman Cornelius Ojelabi dismissed the report attributed to a group calling itself “concerned and vigilant members,” describing it as a fabrication aimed at misleading the public and sowing discord. Ojelabi maintained that no secret meetings or pre-arranged candidate lists exist, stressing that the allegations were a deliberate attempt to manufacture a crisis.
He further alleged that certain individuals, unable to pursue their ambitions through legitimate party channels, had resorted to propaganda and anonymous campaigns to discredit the party’s leadership. According to Ojelabi, such tactics would not undermine the party’s structures or interfere with its democratic processes.
The party also expressed concern over what it described as efforts by “fifth columnists” to destabilise the political environment, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and other stakeholders to take note of attempts to spread misinformation.
Reaffirming its stance, the Lagos APC stated that it would strictly comply with the Electoral Act, the party’s constitution, and guidelines issued by its national leadership in the selection of candidates. The statement noted that while consensus arrangements may be adopted where feasible, direct primaries would be conducted in cases where agreement is not reached, describing the approach as both lawful and binding.
Ojelabi emphasised that the party remains committed to transparency, due process, and internal democracy, insisting that no form of pressure or misinformation would alter its position. He urged party members and the general public to disregard what he described as misleading narratives being circulated by opportunistic groups, assuring that the choice of candidates would ultimately rest with registered party members.
“The Lagos APC remains a disciplined and institution-driven political family founded on consultation, inclusiveness, and respect for democratic norms. The voice of duly registered party members remains supreme, and that voice shall find full expression through duly sanctioned democratic mechanisms,” the statement added.
The party called on its members and the public to ignore the “antics of faceless groups and political opportunists whose stock-in-trade is false alarm and manufactured controversy,” reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy, due process, and the collective will of its members in determining candidate selection.
