Scores of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) protested at the party’s Lagos State Secretariat in Ikeja on Tuesday, calling for the cancellation of primary election results in several constituencies amid allegations of irregularities.
The protest follows the release of House of Assembly and House of Representatives primary results conducted in May, which some party members claim did not reflect the will of voters who participated in the direct primaries.
Protesters from Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Amuwo Odofin Constituency II, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I, and Somolu Constituency II demanded a thorough investigation into alleged procedural violations and vote manipulation.
House of Representatives aspirant Ayodele Adewale alleged irregularities in Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, including the absence of official membership registers during accreditation and the use of unofficial APC slips. He urged the party’s appeal committee to review the results and nullify the election if necessary.
Similarly, House of Assembly aspirant David Doherty from Amuwo Odofin Constituency II accused the process of lacking transparency and claimed that armed men disrupted voting in riverine wards, forcing members to flee. He demanded cancellation of the results and sanctions against culprits.
In Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, petitioners cited irregular collation, result manipulation, and vote inflation, calling for forensic verification of disputed ward-level results.
Prince Hakeem Ola, representing protesters from Amuwo Odofin Constituency II, stressed that internal democracy must be respected, alleging that Doherty had legitimately won but faced attempts by party leaders to overturn the outcome. Another protester, Oluwasola Olugbemi from Agege, warned against imposing candidates on party members, saying such actions undermine democratic principles.
Despite the morning rain, protesters chanted solidarity songs and demanded transparent resolution of all grievances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Lagos State APC dismissed reports that its chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, was harassed, noting he was not present during the protest. Mrs. Omobola Akingbehin, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, urged members to use established grievance channels and conduct demonstrations responsibly, emphasizing the party’s commitment to unity, fairness, and transparent resolution of disputes.
