The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied that the party leadership plots to impose candidates for the party primaries.
The APC Lagos State Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, made the remarks on Thursday following widespread speculation by certain groups regarding planned impositions.
According to Ojelabi, the report purportedly based on claims by a faceless and self-styled group of concerned and vigilant members was nothing more than a desperate fabrication, a reckless exercise in mischief, and a calculated attempt to inflame passions within the ruling party.
“We state without equivocation that there is no plot, no clandestine meetings, and no predetermined list of candidates as falsely alleged. These claims are baseless, mischievous, and designed solely to create the false impression of a crisis where none exists.”
“It is deeply unfortunate that certain elements, unable to advance their ambitions through legitimate party channels, have now resorted to the tired tactics of propaganda, blackmail, and anonymous media sensationalism. Such antics will neither intimidate the leadership of the party nor derail our established democratic processes,” he stated.
The Lagos APC is formally putting security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and all relevant democratic stakeholders on notice regarding the activities of fifth columnists and political mischief-makers engaged in clandestine moves aimed at unnecessarily destabilizing and overheating the polity.
The Lagos APC noted that it remains fully guided by the provisions of the law, the constitution of the party, and the duly issued guidelines of the national leadership.
“We have made our position abundantly clear, where consensus cannot be reached through broad consultation and mutual agreement, there shall be direct primaries. This position is settled, lawful, and non-negotiable. Absolutely nothing will change that,” Ojelabi added.
He further emphasized that no amount of sponsored misinformation, subtle blackmail, media propaganda, or clandestine scheming would alter the party’s firm commitment to due process and internal democracy.
Ojelabi urged loyal members and the general public to disregard the antics of faceless groups and political opportunists whose stock-in-trade is false alarms and manufactured controversy.
“Let it be clearly understood that internal democracy will prevail, due process will be upheld, and the collective will of our members shall remain the ultimate determinant of candidate emergence,” he concluded.
