Lagos: Tension, tight security as APC holds local government primaries in Tinubu’s turf

Tension is running high at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Ogba, Lagos, where the party’s local government primaries are currently underway amid tight security and a heavy turnout.
Crowds of delegates, aspirants and supporters have flooded the venue, as security personnel struggle to maintain order and enforce entry protocols.

Prior to today’s primaries, APC party leaders in the state had said the exercise goes far beyond council seats.

According to them, the election is a crucial step in laying the groundwork to reclaim Lagos for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

With the shadow of the 2023 election still fresh, where Labour Party’s Peter Obi made an unexpected win in Lagos, APC is determined to tighten its grassroots grip to ensure the state never slips away again.

Today’s primaries, scheduled to take place at the party’s State Secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja, will produce APC candidates for chairmanship and councillorship positions in the July 12 local government elections across the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs in the state.

The APC is leaning heavily on consensus candidacy to avoid internal conflict and factionalism after the exercise.

DAILY POST gathered that over 400 aspirants had jostled for the 57 chairmanship slots, but as of last week, 38 had either been disqualified or withdrawn from the race.

“We are not just preparing for local government elections, we are securing Lagos ahead of 2027,” a senior APC official from Agege, who requested anonymity, told DAILY POST at the venue of the primaries.

“The structure must remain strong, peaceful, and intact, especially at the grassroots. This is Tinubu’s political base.”

Tajudeen Olusi, chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), echoed this sentiment at a recent stakeholders’ meeting, where he said, “Since the early days of democracy, primaries have always been through consensus. With patience and support, there will be a way out. That is why wisdom is applied in politics.”

The use of indirect primaries, via handpicked delegates, is another indication of the party’s resolve to tightly manage the process and maintain internal order.

Orchestrating the effort is a coalition of Lagos political heavyweights including Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker of the House of Assembly Mudasiru Obasa, Senator Oluranti Adebule, and former Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro.

As of Saturday morning, security operatives from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Lagos State Mobile Police have taken full control of the APC State Secretariat in Ogba, venue of the ongoing local government primaries.

Heavily armed officers were seen attempting to clear large crowds of voters, supporters, and aspirants gathered at the entrance and within the premises.

Meanwhile, some party members have expressed frustration over delays in accessing the venue, as security officials enforced strict entry protocols.

In the lead-up to today’s primaries, the APC Chairman in Lagos, Hon Cornelius Ojelabi, convened a stakeholders’ meeting to fine-tune the party’s strategy.

He described the meeting as a productive opportunity for party members to share insights, address concerns, and align goals for the upcoming local council elections.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his visit to the APC secretariat at Acme, Ogba on Friday, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to a peaceful and transparent process.

Addressing members, the governor said, “Our party has a strong legacy of progress and responsible leadership, and I have no doubt that we are poised for another resounding victory in the upcoming council elections.”

A youth leader from Mushin, Fabs Shobanle, in an interview with DAILY POST, warned that the APC cannot afford any form of disorganization during the ongoing local government primaries in Lagos, adding that the outcome will shape the party’s strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We can’t afford to be disorganized. The opposition is watching. This is no longer just about local government, it’s about 2027. The Lagos APC understands that losing the state again in 2027, especially by an incumbent president who built his political career here, would be more than a blow, it would be an embarrassment.”

Meanwhile, some aspirants have voiced dissatisfaction over what they described as an “imposed consensus,” warning that the party risks internal backlash if the process lacks transparency.

An aspirant from Ejigbo LCDA said, “Consensus must be genuine, not a cover for imposition. We will not accept being sidelined in the name of party unity.

“If the process is not transparent, we will challenge it. APC must not mistake silence for acceptance.”

Lagos: Tension, tight security as APC holds local government primaries in Tinubu’s turf