Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, rejecting what they described as an alleged plan to impose appointees across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The demonstrators, said to be representatives from all 57 councils, also called for the immediate removal of the party’s state chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi. Chanting slogans and brandishing placards with messages such as “Ojelabi Must Go” and “We Want Fresh Leadership”, the protesters voiced their frustration over what they termed a lack of internal democracy within the party.
The protest, which began in the early hours of the day, led to the deployment of a significant number of police officers to the Assembly complex to maintain order and prevent any breach of peace.
In response to the growing tension, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, visited the scene in a bid to pacify the protesters. Addressing the crowd, he described the issue as an internal party matter and assured that efforts were underway to resolve the grievances.
“This is a party issue and we will resolve it amicably,” Hamzat said. “We value every member’s opinion and remain committed to ensuring fairness within our party.”
The protest underscores rising tensions within the Lagos APC ahead of the forthcoming local government transition, as calls for transparency and inclusiveness grow louder among party faithful.
