A stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ojokoro LCDA, Lagos State, descended into chaos on Monday following accusations that Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, attempted to impose a chairmanship candidate.
The meeting, held at 7 Ijaoye Street, began around 4:00 pm, but was soon disrupted by aggrieved members of the party who stormed the venue in protest.
Chants of “Ole!” (thief), “We can’t take it,” and “Obasa can’t control us from Agege,” echoed through the area, as protesters rejected what they described as interference by Obasa in local leadership decisions.
Other slogans included “Who knows Sanusi?” and “We won’t allow a stranger rule us here,” referencing the alleged candidate believed to be from Agege and without known ties to the Ojokoro community.
One of the protesters, Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye, spoke to the press after the meeting was interrupted.
He claimed the purpose of the gathering was to rubber-stamp the imposition of a candidate unfamiliar to Ojokoro’s political landscape.
“We are here to reject imposition. All aspirants deserve a fair contest to prove their political relevance,” Mr Akinoso-Olawaye stated.
He added that the individual being promoted had no electoral history in the area and warned of negative fallout if such impositions continue.
He emphasized that only candidates with residency in Ojokoro and a history of party involvement should be considered for leadership, noting that at least 18 aspirants were vying for the position, many of whom had supporters at the protest.
Another protest leader, Bola Ojetayo, voiced frustration at what she described as a recurring disregard for grassroots input.
“We must not sell our seats to outsiders. A stranger cannot come and lead us in our own home,” she said.
“Leaders can’t sit elsewhere and decide for us. Someone in Agege shouldn’t determine Ojokoro’s leadership,” Ms Ojetayo added.
In an attempt to calm tensions, James Owolabi, a former House of Representatives member who represented Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency, urged restraint.
He acknowledged the legitimacy of the protesters’ grievances and encouraged them to maintain peace.
“You have a voice in the party. Express yourselves peacefully without violence,” Mr Owolabi said.
The event was also attended by several other APC figures, including Jelili Oseni, the current council chairman; Ipoola Omisore, a former Lagos Assembly member; Amosu Aminu; Chief Oriyomi Olaogun; and Akindele Aremu.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) had fixed July 12 for the next local government elections.
