A meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Ojokoro LCDA, Lagos State, descended into chaos on Monday following accusations of the imposition of a chairmanship candidate.
The meeting, which began peacefully at 4:00 p.m. on Ijaoye Street, was soon disrupted when aggrieved party members stormed the venue, protesting the alleged imposition.
Protesters chanted “Ole!” (thief), “We can’t take it,” and accused Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, of imposing a candidate from Agege on Ojokoro residents.
Other chants included “Who knows Sanusi?” and “Obasa can’t control us from Agege” as they voiced their displeasure with the candidate selection process.
One of the protest leaders, Mr. Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye, argued that a chairmanship aspirant must be from Ojokoro, have a history of party involvement, and actively participate in local council politics.
He stressed that imposing an outsider would have negative consequences and urged for a fair contest among the many aspirants vying for the position.
“We are here to reject imposition. All aspirants deserve a fair contest to prove their political relevance,” Akinoso-Olawaye said, noting that at least 18 aspirants were actively competing for the chairmanship.
Mrs. Bola Ojetayo, another protest leader, criticized party leaders for prioritizing personal interests over the will of the people.
“A stranger cannot come and lead us in our own home,” she stated, stressing that leadership should not be decided by figures from outside Ojokoro.
In response, Mr. James Owolabi, a former House of Representatives member and APC stalwart, urged the protesters to remain peaceful and avoid violence, acknowledging their right to protest within the party.