…Says no imposition of candidates in Lagos, nationwide
Eshioromeh Sebastian
President Bola Tinubu has directed that members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country be allowed to choose their preferred candidates for the forthcoming governorship and legislative primaries through direct primaries, rejecting any form of imposition.
The National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television. Yilwatda said the President specifically emphasised that in Lagos State, party leadership must allow members to queue behind the candidates of their choice via direct primaries should consensus fail to be reached.
According to Yilwatda, the directive is aimed at ensuring internal democracy and credible candidate selection processes within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The President has made it clear that party members, from the ward to the state level, must be allowed to freely express their preferences. Where consensus is not possible, direct primaries remain the pathway. There shall be no imposition of any candidate on the people,” Yilwatda stated.
The APC national chairman noted that the President’s stance aligns with the party’s constitution and its commitment to deepening democratic practices.
Lagos APC dismisses imposition plot
In a related development, the Lagos State chapter of the APC has rejected reports alleging a plot to impose candidates ahead of the forthcoming legislative elections.
In a statement signed by the state chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, the party described the report as “a fabrication” designed to create disaffection within its ranks.
Ojelabi stated that there have been no clandestine meetings or predetermined lists of candidates, stressing that the allegations were baseless and intended to create a false impression of a crisis within the party.
“Our party remains committed to internal democracy. There is no cabal sitting in any corner to impose anyone on the good people of Lagos State. The leadership under President Tinubu has always championed the will of the people,” Ojelabi said.
The Lagos APC, therefore, urged its members and the public to disregard what it called false claims, reiterating that the will of party members would ultimately determine the emergence of candidates.
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