Agege APC in turmoil over alleged candidate imposition ahead of primaries

Tensions are boiling over in the Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) raise alarm over what they describe as a desperate, undemocratic power play in the lead-up to the party’s local government primaries.

At the center of the controversy is the alleged disqualification of Ganiu Obasa, a frontline aspirant and son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

Party insiders have condemned the move as politically motivated and suspiciously timed, accusing powerful interests within the party of manipulating the process to sideline perceived threats.

The situation escalated when the incumbent chairman, Alhaji Ganiu Egunjobi, reportedly rushed to the APC state secretariat to procure an expression of interest form on behalf of Alhaji Azeez Tunde “Disco”, a 67-year-old party stalwart whose candidacy has stunned observers.

Disco, the current APC chairman in Agege, had not publicly declared interest in contesting the chairmanship seat and was not regarded as a contender prior to this development.

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His last-minute entry has sparked accusations of imposition, political orchestration, and backdoor deals engineered by influential figures determined to control the outcome of the primaries.

“This is not democracy. This is imposition at its highest level,” said a senior party chieftain who preferred to remain anonymous.

“How can someone who never expressed interest suddenly become the anointed candidate?”

Anger is mounting among APC grassroots members and aspirants, many of whom view the unfolding events as a betrayal of the party’s democratic ideals.

Fears are growing that the selection process has been hijacked by a cabal bent on stifling open competition and imposing preferred candidates, regardless of merit or popular support.

“The integrity of the APC is being threatened,” said another party member. “What we are witnessing in Agege is a complete subversion of internal democracy.”

In the face of deepening unrest, many party members are now calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and restore order.

Widely credited with building the APC from the ground up, Tinubu is being urged to defend the democratic values he championed.

“President Tinubu built the foundation of the APC. He must not allow injustice and impunity to tear down the legacy he has spent decades building,” warned a respected party elder in the area.

With the APC primaries looming, the political atmosphere in Agege remains tense. The unfolding crisis raises serious questions about the future of internal democracy within the ruling party, especially at the grassroots level where electoral credibility is most vulnerable.

As the controversy deepens, stakeholders fear that unresolved grievances could fracture the party’s local structure, alienate long-time supporters, and damage its chances in the forthcoming local government elections.

The coming days will be critical as the APC leadership faces mounting pressure to address what many are calling a test of its democratic integrity.