Lagos APC Urges Restraint Amidst Claims of Candidate Imposition in Primaries

The All Progressives Congress, APC Lagos chapter, is calling on disgruntled aspirants to seek redress through the Appeals Committee, following allegations of imposition and falsified results in the recently concluded primary elections, which took place in preparation for the 2027 general polls.

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This appeal for calm comes after some aspirants and aggrieved party members staged violent protests at the party's Secretariat in Acme, Ogba, Lagos, on Tuesday, expressing their discontent with the primary election outcomes.

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Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, the State Chairman of APC, made this plea through his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Omobola Akingbehin, in response to the protests and subsequent developments.

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A statement released by Akingbehin highlights the controversy surrounding the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, with numerous aspirants across several states accusing the party of imposing candidates, manipulating primary election results, and violating internal democratic procedures during the National Assembly and state assembly primaries.

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The party's attention was drawn to a video circulating on social media, which showed the protest at the APC Secretariat, prompting Akingbehin to issue a statement clarifying the events that transpired.

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The party has categorically stated that the Party Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, was neither molested nor harassed during the incident, and was not even present at the APC Secretariat when the protest occurred.

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The APC acknowledges the constitutional right of individuals to express their grievances through lawful means, but emphasizes that all protests must be conducted in accordance with the law, while maintaining public order, party discipline, and the collective interest of the party.

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With the primary election process now concluded, the party's internal mechanisms for addressing grievances and resolving issues are already in place, providing established channels for aggrieved persons to seek redress.

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The APC encourages all disgruntled individuals to utilize these channels, promoting unity, fairness, and the continued progress of the party, and urging all party members and stakeholders to remain calm and exercise restraint.

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The party also advises against actions or statements that could cause unnecessary tension or misrepresent the facts surrounding the incident, and cautions the public, party faithful, and the media to disregard any misleading narratives and rely solely on information disseminated through official party channels.