Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State have raised concerns regarding alleged attempts by certain party leaders to pre-select candidates for the upcoming elections, thereby circumventing the party’s commitment to direct primaries. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Tunde Samson, representing a group of “concerned and vigilant members,” accused prominent figures such as James Faleke, Cornelius Ojelabi, and Mutiu Are of conducting private meetings aimed at compiling a predetermined list of candidates for both the House of Representatives and the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The group claimed that these meetings were being held at a private residence and characterized the actions as a deliberate effort to undermine the party’s stated commitment to internal democracy. They emphasized that such maneuvers contradict the APC’s position on direct primaries and threaten the rights of party members. “This runs contrary to the party’s clear position on direct primaries and represents a serious threat to internal democracy. It undermines the rights of party members and disregards the principles upon which the party stands,” the statement asserted.
The members vowed to oppose any attempts to impose candidates, insisting that the Lagos APC should not be controlled by a select few. They also referenced past controversies surrounding local government elections in the state, alleging that previous exercises were marred by irregularities and imposition. The group called upon President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that democratic processes are upheld within the party, noting his history of participating in party primaries and advocating for transparent and credible electoral processes.
Issuing what they described as a final warning, the group stressed that any attempt to sidestep due process could provoke strong resistance within the party ranks. “There must be free, fair, and transparent primaries. Anything short of that will be resisted,” the statement concluded. Efforts to obtain responses from the individuals mentioned in the allegations were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
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