Eti-Osa East APC Members Urge President Tinubu to Probe Lagos Primaries Amid Allegations of Irregularities
A faction of All Progressives Congress (APC) members from Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and investigate alleged widespread irregularities in the recently concluded APC chairmanship and councillorship primaries.
In an open letter addressed to the president and made available to newsmen on Thursday, the group, known as Concerned APC Stakeholders in Eti-Osa East LCDA, accused party leaders and the electoral committee of manipulation and favouritism during the primaries held at the APC state secretariat on Acme Road, Lagos.
“The outcome of the primaries has left a large number of aspirants aggrieved, not because they lost fairly, but because the process was compromised and the will of the people subverted,” the letter stated.
The stakeholders emphasized that the situation was especially troubling in Eti-Osa East, where they claim the democratic process was reduced to “an orchestrated show of favouritism, deceit, and betrayal of our party’s guiding principles.”
A key point of contention is the exclusion of the incumbent chairman, Hon. John Ogundare, who they argue was unjustly denied the party’s ticket despite his commendable leadership record. The letter highlights Ogundare’s achievements within his first six months in office, noting his proactive approach to tackling security challenges that brought peace and stability to a previously volatile area.
“Hon. Campos Ogundare took on security challenges head-on, transforming Eti-Osa East from a zone plagued by fear and unrest into a peaceful community,” the stakeholders said.
In addition to security improvements, Ogundare was credited with driving environmental reforms, launching youth empowerment initiatives, and strengthening collaboration between the government and party members. The group described the denial of his candidacy as “illogical and unjust,” attributing it to the actions of “self-centred and insensitive leaders” within the party.
The letter, titled ‘A Call for Presidential Intervention In The Crisis Rocking APC In Lagos Arising from Electoral Malpractices & Injustice That Marred the Just-Concluded Primaries of the Party in The State for Forthcoming LG Elections’, also highlighted the wider fallout from the primaries. The group warned that the controversies have deepened internal divisions in the party, particularly in Eti-Osa, where APC recently lost the Federal Constituency seat to the Labour Party in the 2023 general election.
To restore order and fairness, the Concerned APC Stakeholders demanded a full forensic investigation into the conduct of the primaries in Eti-Osa East LCDA. They called for the establishment of a Presidential Monitoring Panel to oversee electoral processes, sanctions against party officials accused of abuse of office, and continued support for incumbents like Ogundare who have demonstrated commitment to effective governance.
The group’s appeal to President Tinubu underscores growing concerns within Lagos APC ranks about internal democracy and transparency ahead of the forthcoming local government elections.
