Lagos APC Appeal Committee Receives Over 100 Petitions Challenging LG Primary Results

The Appeal Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has been inundated with over 100 petitions from dissatisfied aspirants contesting the outcome of the party’s recent local government primaries. The primaries, held last Saturday across the state’s 57 local councils, were meant to select candidates for the July 12 local government elections.

According to Naija News, the petitions were submitted by aggrieved aspirants from various parts of the state, alleging irregularities, lack of transparency, and imposition of candidates during the selection process.

Sources within the party told Punch that as of Wednesday, the committee had received 45 petitions from chairmanship aspirants and 59 from councillorship contenders.

Lagos APC spokesperson Oluseye Oladejo confirmed the figure, stating, “We have received 45 chairmanship petitions and 59 councillorship petitions. The committee will conclude its assignment this week.”

The appeal committee, chaired by Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), was established on Monday to address grievances arising from the primaries, which were conducted through indirect voting and consensus arrangements across the state’s 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.

Widespread dissatisfaction has triggered protests in areas such as Agege, Ikeja, and Somolu, with demonstrators accusing party leaders of imposing preferred candidates and manipulating the process.

Amid growing unrest, the United Action for Democracy (UAD), a civil society group, has called for an independent investigation into the primaries. Speaking at a press conference in Abule Egba on Wednesday, UAD General Secretary Kunle Ajayi criticized the conduct of the primaries, claiming it undermined local democracy and limited opportunities for genuine participation by the working class.

“The APC primary is a reflection of how local government autonomy and democratic values are being subverted by political elites,” Ajayi said. He added that the situation in Agege, in particular, raised red flags about the credibility of the process.

“These actions jeopardize the democratic process and set a troubling precedent as we approach the 2027 general elections,” he warned.

The UAD urged authorities to thoroughly investigate the allegations of candidate imposition, warning that failure to do so could alienate voters and weaken faith in democratic governance.

“We are committed to exposing and resisting all forms of anti-democratic manipulation,” Ajayi declared. “We call on all democracy advocates, within and beyond Nigeria, to stand with us in this fight.”

In response, APC leadership in Lagos has denied the accusations of imposing candidates, insisting that the primary process was fair and transparent.