Amid growing dissatisfaction following the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in Lagos State, a group of party members in Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has formally appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
EpeInsights gathered that the group, operating under the banner Concerned APC Stakeholders in Eti-Osa East LCDA, on Thursday submitted an open letter to the President.
They called for the immediate constitution of a probe panel to investigate what they described as “electoral fraud, impunity and internal sabotage” during the primaries for the upcoming local government elections.
The appeal comes in the wake of widespread protests across Lagos, with party members alleging that the primaries held at the APC state secretariat on Acme Road were compromised to favour pre-selected aspirants at the expense of others.
According to the letter, the party’s internal democratic principles were blatantly disregarded, particularly in Eti-Osa East LCDA, where incumbent chairman Hon. John Campos Ogundare was allegedly denied a fair chance at re-election.
“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.
Citing Ogundare’s performance in office including achievements in security, environmental reform, and youth empowerment—the stakeholders questioned why such a leader was edged out of the race through what they called “a calculated manipulation by party leaders.”
They further warned that the internal crisis could deepen discontent in Eti-Osa, an area the APC lost to the Labour Party in the 2023 general election.
“As we write, APC in Eti-Osa East is fractured. The injustice meted out to a performing chairman who enjoys strong grassroots support is unacceptable,” the group noted, warning that failure to act could further erode party support in the region.
The stakeholders urged Tinubu, whom they described as a symbol of justice and fairness within the party, to take immediate steps to restore confidence among aggrieved members and reposition the party ahead of the polls.
“Mr President, it would serve you no good to allow this injustice to stay, as the electoral fraud is in stark contrast to your disposition to justice and fairness,” the letter concluded.
As tensions simmer within Lagos APC ranks, party insiders say more stakeholders from other LGAs may issue similar petitions if the controversies remain unresolved.
