Tensions flared within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday as scores of aggrieved party members staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly, calling for the immediate removal of the party chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi.
The demonstrators, drawn from all 57 local councils in the state, carried placards bearing messages such as “Ojelabi Must Go” and “We Want Fresh Leadership.” Their protest came just a day after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated newly elected chairmen and vice-chairmen across the local governments.
Security operatives maintained a strong presence around the assembly complex to ensure order during the demonstration.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, convener Mr. Segun Falae said party members had grown disillusioned with the current leadership under Ojelabi, accusing him of stifling grassroots engagement and planning to impose cabinet members at the local level without consultation.
“We have appealed, prayed, and tolerated this leadership, but nothing has changed. This is not the APC we know. We are demanding accountability and a fresh direction,” Falae stated.
He criticized the party’s handling of the last local government elections, describing the process as shambolic and alleging that it contributed to APC’s unprecedented losses in Lagos.
Falae pointed to past party chairmen like Abiodun Ogunleye, Henry Ajomale, and Babatunde Balogun as examples of inclusive leadership that united the party and contributed to its electoral success.
He reaffirmed the group’s loyalty to the APC and expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and Governor Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ policy framework. However, he warned that continued mismanagement could deepen internal divisions.
Receiving the protesters’ petition, lawmaker Solomon Bonu (Badagry I) urged calm and pledged that the House would review their concerns. He assured the group that their grievances would not be ignored.
In response, the Lagos APC issued a statement through its spokesperson, Mr. Seye Oladejo, dismissing the protesters’ claims. The party denied any plans to impose local cabinet members and reaffirmed its commitment to internal democracy.
The protest signals rising internal friction within Lagos APC and growing calls for reform as the party gears up for future political contests.
