What was expected to be a routine post-primary reconciliation within the Lagos APC has spiralled into one of the most divisive internal confrontations in recent memory. At the centre are the disputed House of Assembly tickets for Agege Constituency I and Somolu Constituency II, with protests now seen as moves by rival camps working against President Bola Tinubu’s wishes for party unity.
The latest demonstrations at the APC State Secretariat in Acme, Lagos, further exposed deep divisions. Hundreds of aggrieved members insisted the published candidates do not reflect the wishes of party members. Protesters from Agege and Somolu demanded a review and urged national intervention. The protests were widely viewed as an insult to the Governor and the Party Chairman.
For many observers, the fight over Agege 01 and Somolu 02 has become a broader struggle for influence and control of grassroots structures, directly undermining the stability President Bola Tinubu has called for in Lagos State.
Agege Constituency I
Supporters of Hon. Kolawole Egunjobi remained vocal in challenging the party’s candidate list. Egunjobi is widely regarded as a political loyalist of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. His supporters maintained that the published outcome does not reflect the mandate from the primary election, fueling protests and petitions.
Somolu Constituency II
The constituency witnessed sustained agitation from supporters of Hon. Samuel Apata, widely perceived as the preferred aspirant of former ALGON President and APC stakeholder, Hon. Kolade Alabi.
The political undertones became clearer during yesterday’s protest at the APC Secretariat—many protesters from Agege openly identified with Egunjobi’s camp, aligned to Hon. Obasa. A significant number of Bariga demonstrators appeared in branded caps and materials bearing the images of Hon. Kolade Alabi and Samuel Apata.
The visible alignment intensified speculation that the demonstrations were not just about primary outcomes but a coordinated affront to the Governor and Party Chairman, contrary to President Bola Tinubu’s wishes for cohesion. While no official evidence shows either leader directly organised the protest, the constituencies involved and the affiliations displayed have fueled debate about the forces driving the agitation.
Yet a key question resonates: If Agege protesters are openly associated with Obasa’s ally, Hon. Kolawole Egunjobi, and Bariga protesters proudly bearing the insignia of Kolade Alabi and Samuel Apata, the issue has moved beyond electoral grievances into political responsibility.
For stakeholders, the concern is who has the authority to end the protests. The continued demonstrations risk deepening divisions and undermining reconciliation efforts. The question remains: If protesters from Agege are perceived to be fighting for Obasa’s ally, and Bariga protesters identify with Kolade Alabi and Samuel Apata, why have these influential leaders not publicly appealed for calm? If Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and former ALGON President Kolade Alabi refuse or fail to call the Agege and Bariga protesters to order, who will?
As the controversy unfolds, that question may become as important as the ticket dispute itself. For a party seeking unity and discipline in line with President Bola Tinubu’s wishes, the answer could determine whether this is resolved through dialogue or festers into a deeper crisis.
For now, the battle for Agege 01 and Somolu 02 remains unresolved. What began as a dispute over primaries has evolved into a test of party cohesion, leadership credibility, and political influence within Lagos APC. Whether reconciliation prevails may determine not only the fate of the tickets but the unity of the party going forward.
The growing demonstrations have become, in the eyes of many party faithful, a protest too many — underscoring the urgent need for reconciliation, transparency, and decisive leadership if the APC is to emerge united and politically stronger, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s wishes.
Ganiu Olabode is a social commentator and political analyst, writes from Lagos.
