Discontent within the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) boiled over on Tuesday as a large group of party members in the Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) took to the streets in protest over the selection of Mr. Adebayo Adefuye as the party’s chairmanship candidate for the upcoming July 12 local government elections.
The demonstration, which occurred during the official flag presentation to APC candidates across the state, drew attention to internal rifts brewing within the party—particularly in Yaba—where local stakeholders have rejected Adefuye’s candidacy on grounds that he is “non-indigenous” to the area.
Protesters, including members from several wards in Yaba LCDA, marched from Adekunle Roundabout to the Sabo axis, holding placards bearing inscriptions such as “Adebayo is an Alien,” “Yaba Rejects Adefuye,” and “Asiwaju, Save Our Soul.”
One of the protest leaders, Mr. Ismail Olorunimbe, a senior party figure from Ward C, made a passionate appeal to President Bola Tinubu and other top party figures to halt what he described as an injustice.
“This is an insult to the loyal APC members who have worked hard over the years in Yaba,” he stated. “We had 13 qualified aspirants who showed interest in this position. Instead of choosing among them, the party leadership is forcing someone who is alien to us. We won’t accept this.”
Olorunimbe insisted that Adefuye, who is believed to come from neighbouring Somolu, was previously rejected in his original constituency and is now being “transplanted” into Yaba, a move he says is devoid of political and communal legitimacy.
He also condemned the nomination process, calling it opaque and lacking community engagement. “There was no proper consultation. This kind of imposition undermines the trust of the grassroots and could cost the party dearly during the elections,” he warned.
Echoing his concerns, another protester, Mrs. Rasidat Ojoobaro, voiced fears of party members being pushed into desperate actions. “If the leadership refuses to listen, people may be forced to seek self-help,” she warned ominously. Mrs. Tayo Funsho, another vocal member, urged the APC hierarchy to respect the preferences of its base.
The crisis stems in part from unresolved disputes in the party’s May 10 primaries, which failed to produce candidates for both Lagos Mainland and Yaba LCDA, largely due to ongoing legal challenges and political infighting.
As of press time, the APC leadership had not responded to the protest in Yaba. However, with local government elections barely a month away, the episode underscores the fragility of the party’s internal cohesion and the risks associated with controversial candidate selections.
