Lagos, Nigeria — Disgruntled members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staged a protest on Saturday over alleged imposition of chairmanship candidates in Lagos Mainland Local Government and Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), ahead of the July 12 local government elections in Lagos State.

The protest followed the party’s chairmanship primaries held at its state secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja, where candidates for most of the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) emerged through consensus or indirect voting. However, party members claimed that in the Lagos Mainland and Yaba councils, no genuine consensus was reached—prompting demonstrations and legal threats.

The protesters, who gathered along Apapa Road in Ebute Metta before proceeding to Arise TV headquarters in Victoria Island, accused local party leaders of attempting to force unpopular candidates on the party without proper consultation or agreement among aspirants.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Taorid Owolabi said, “Despite extensive consultations, no consensus was achieved in either Lagos Mainland or Yaba LCDA. What is being paraded as consensus is simply imposition. We demand that the primaries be rescheduled under a transparent and inclusive process.”

Owolabi called on the APC State Working Committee to fix a new date and venue for the primary elections in the affected councils, adding that any attempt to proceed with imposed candidates would be met with legal resistance.

“We also urge the adoption of revised guidelines that reflect the unique political dynamics in our LG and LCDA, in full compliance with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” he added.

Another protester, Sodeeq Olawepo, disclosed that the intra-party conflict has already escalated into a legal dispute. He cited a pending lawsuit—Suit No. ID/8948GCM/2025—filed at the Lagos State High Court over the disputed primaries.

“We urge party stakeholders to act swiftly and resolve this crisis. If ignored, it could not only damage the APC’s prospects in the upcoming local elections but also have long-term consequences ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Olawepo warned.

The protesters insisted that the alleged imposition contradicts the democratic principles the APC professes and risks deepening internal divisions within the party.

As of Saturday evening, over 50 chairmanship candidates have emerged from APC primaries across the state, with Lagos Mainland and Yaba LCDA remaining key flashpoints of contention.