Chaos Trails APC LG Chairmanship Primaries in Lagos: Faleke, Ojelabi Accused of Manipulation, Ethnic Bias and Injustice

Chaos Trails APC LG Chairmanship Primaries in Lagos: Faleke, Ojelabi Accused of Manipulation, Ethnic Bias and Injustice

By Committee of Concerned Lagosians

The recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship and Councillorship Primaries across Lagos State’s 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) have been mired in controversy and widespread allegations of corruption, favoritism, religious bias, and incompetence.

According to findings by the Committee of Concerned Lagosians, the exercise, which should have symbolized grassroots democracy, instead became a theatre of absurdity, rigged outcomes, and imposition of candidates through backdoor deals allegedly driven by greed, ethnic sentiment, and lust for power.

APAPA LG: HOW 22 BECAME 27

In Apapa Local Government, a glaring case of electoral manipulation has come to light. Of the 22 accredited delegates who participated in the primary election, 27 votes were astonishingly recorded. The incumbent Chairman, who is seeking re-election, secured 25 votes, while the opposing aspirant garnered just 2. The math simply does not add up.

The people of Apapa are reportedly dissatisfied and have warned of protest votes in the July 2025 local government elections and the 2027 general elections if the alleged imposition is not addressed.

OJOKORO: THE ‘BOTTOM POWER’ SAGA

In Ojokoro LCDA, events took a more controversial turn. A relatively unknown female aspirant, alleged to be romantically linked to Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, Member of the House of Representatives for Ikeja Federal Constituency, emerged as the APC Chairmanship candidate under questionable circumstances.

Party members complain that she lacks political experience, grassroots presence, and any record of service to the community. Her emergence has also reignited concerns about religious imbalance, as all key positions in Ojokoro—from the House of Representatives to the Lagos Assembly and local government—are currently held by Christians. The Muslim community is reportedly angered by this trend, which they say sidelines them completely.

SOMOLU LG: ₦250M ALLEGEDLY EXCHANGED HANDS

In Somolu Local Government, allegations of massive financial inducement and ethnic favoritism have surfaced. It is alleged that the outgoing Chairman, Abdul Hammed Salawu (a.k.a. Dullar), who hails from Kogi State like Hon. Faleke and Barr. Babatunde Ogala SAN (Chairman of the APC Election Committee), paid ₦250 million in bribes to secure the Chairmanship ticket for his preferred candidate—a political lightweight with only a single term as councillor and no verifiable leadership credentials.

Critics argue this move was orchestrated to protect the Chairman's interest and prevent a probe into alleged financial improprieties during his tenure. Once again, the issue of religious imbalance is at play. All major political office holders from Somolu—including those in the State Assembly and the Executive Council—are Christians. The attempt to present a Muslim candidate was rejected by the community due to the candidate’s perceived incompetence and inexperience.

STATEWIDE OUTRAGE: SYSTEMIC FRAUD?

Reports from several other local councils echo the same sentiments: imposition of unpopular candidates, suppression of democratic choice, and the sidelining of competent aspirants.

Notably, internal party politics has also deepened the crisis. APC in Lagos State is traditionally made up of two major blocs: The Mandate Movement and the Justice Forum. Alarmingly, of the 57 Chairmanship tickets, 48 were allegedly allocated to members of the Justice Forum, leaving just 9 for the Mandate Movement. This imbalance has provoked strong resentment within the party and could further destabilize APC’s internal structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

THE BIG QUESTION

As Lagosians continue to express outrage over the manner in which the primaries were conducted, many are beginning to question whether APC has learned any lessons from the 2023 elections, where the party suffered a shocking defeat in Lagos—President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political stronghold.

The 2025 LG elections and the 2027 general elections may ultimately reflect the consequences of these controversial primaries.

The Committee of Concerned Lagosians is therefore calling on the APC National Leadership to intervene urgently, restore justice and fairness, and reposition the party to regain the confidence of its members and the electorate in Lagos State.