The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has denied allegations of plans to impose cabinet members in local governments, following a protest by aggrieved party members at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
In a statement issued Monday by APC spokesperson Mr. Seye Oladejo, the party said it remained committed to internal democracy and denied any intention of overriding local decision-making in appointing council executives.
The protest came shortly after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu swore in 57 newly elected chairmen and vice-chairmen for the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas on Sunday.
The demonstrators, who identified as Concerned and Loyal APC Members, accused the party leadership—particularly State Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi—of interference, nepotism, and creating a skewed distribution of appointments.
“Our attention has been drawn to the reported protest… concerning the constitution of local government cabinets,” Oladejo stated. “We recognise and respect the rights of stakeholders to express grievances in a democratic manner. Peaceful protests are a legitimate feature of civic engagement.”
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However, he emphasized that cabinet appointments would be made through established procedures involving consultations with local party leadership and would not be dictated by the state chapter. “The party at the state level only plays an advisory role… we vehemently deny any allegation to impose nomination on any local government,” he added.
Oladejo encouraged concerned members to channel their grievances through official party structures and engage in constructive dialogue. He said the APC remained committed to resolving internal conflicts amicably and promoting party unity ahead of key political timelines.
Internal disagreements over the selection of local government cabinet members have occurred in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress in recent years.
In 2021, protests erupted in parts of the state following the announcement of candidates for local government elections, with some party members alleging exclusion from the nomination process. Similar protests also took place in 2017, when party members in areas such as Mushin and Oshodi-Isolo staged demonstrations over what they described as imposed candidates.
The APC Constitution allows for party primaries and consultations to guide selections at local levels, but appointments to supervisory councillor positions and secretaries to local governments are often influenced by both local and state-level party leaders.
The Lagos APC has previously stated that its role at the state level in cabinet composition is advisory, while local party organs are expected to make final nominations after consultations. However, disputes have occasionally arisen over the perceived role of the state executive in the final approval of local cabinet lists.
NAN
