Lagos APC Members Protest Primary Outcome, Seek Review

Fresh controversy has emerged within the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State as party leaders and supporters from Agege Constituency I called for a review of the State House of Assembly primary election result.

The protesters, who included ward chairmen and secretaries from the five wards in the constituency, gathered at the APC National Headquarters in Abuja to register their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the exercise. They argued that the result eventually published by the party did not reflect the votes recorded during the primary election.

Carrying placards and banners, the group urged the party’s leadership to investigate the matter and ensure that the candidate they claimed won the election is officially recognised.

Led by Johnson Kolawole, the protesters submitted a petition addressed to President Bola Tinubu, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and members of the party’s National Working Committee. According to the petition, the action was taken to protect the credibility of the party’s internal democratic process and preserve the wishes of party members in the constituency.

The group claimed that Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi emerged as the winner of the primary election after securing the highest number of votes across the five wards that make up Agege Constituency I. They maintained that the exercise was conducted peacefully and monitored by party officials, election observers, security agencies and other stakeholders.

According to them, confusion began after a publication released days after the primary listed Oluwagbenga Michael Abiola as the party’s candidate for the constituency. The protesters insisted that the published result was different from the figures announced at the end of the election.

They further argued that records from the polling units and reports from election monitors support their position. The group said it is prepared to provide documents, video recordings and other materials to prove its claims.

The protesters appealed to the APC leadership to carefully review the matter and recognise what they described as the authentic result of the primary election. They also called on President Tinubu to intervene and help resolve the dispute to avoid further division within the party.

The disagreement has added to the growing debates surrounding the outcome of the APC primaries in Lagos State. Supporters of both Oluwagbenga Abiola and Ganiyu Egunjobi have continued to claim victory in the contest for the Agege Constituency I ticket ahead of the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly election.

With the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee currently reviewing petitions arising from various primaries across the country, members of the constituency are awaiting a final decision on the disputed ticket.