Some members of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State staged a peaceful protest on Monday at the front of the Lagos State House of Assembly, calling for the immediate removal of the party’s state chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and federal lawmaker James Faleke, over what they described as “imposition of candidates” and “anti-grassroots leadership.”
The protesters, made up of men and women from all 57 Local Council Development Areas in the state, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Ojelabi Must Go,” “Faleke is a Betrayer” and “Ojelabi, Mr Voters Apathy.”
Their voices echoed demands for inclusion, fairness, and an end to what they described as top-down manipulation of local politics.
Our correspondent who monitored the protest said there was a heavy presence of security personnel around the Assembly premises, ensuring the protest remained peaceful.
During the protest, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, arrived at the scene with his entourage, but was unable to address the agitated crowd.
Protesters surrounded his vehicle in large numbers, chanting and demanding immediate action from the government.
Seeing no opportunity to speak or safely engage, the deputy governor was forced to drive away without addressing the demonstrators.
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One of the protest leaders, Ogumba Adetunbosun from Ikorodu, said the protest was a result of dissatisfaction with the way local government elections were conducted and how supervisory positions were being imposed without input from the grassroots.
“We’re concerned politicians from all 57 LCDAs. What brought us here is the injustice we witnessed in the just-concluded local government elections.
“Chairmen and vice-chairmen have emerged, but when it came to appointing Supervisors and Secretaries to Local Governments, we were sidelined.
“There was no consultation, no dialogue, and that’s not democracy,” Adetunbosun said.
He added that many members were not against those who won elected positions, but insisted that the lack of inclusive consultation was troubling.
“We are not hoodlums. We want peaceful engagement like we used to have in the days of Senator Bayo Oshinowo, who believed in justice for the grassroots,” Adetunbosun concluded.
Another protester, Mrs Bola Balogun, from Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, accused top APC leaders of stifling local democracy.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu said we shouldn’t appoint Supervisors for six months. Why? They want to impose people on us.
“We voted for Mr. Governor and President Tinubu not for them to impose appointees on us. Ojelabi and Faleke are choking Lagos APC.
“They’re not listening to the grassroots, and they’re killing the spirit of democracy,” Balogun cried out.
Speaking during the interview, she appealed to Tinubu, urging him to intervene before the party loses its grip on Lagos.
“President Tinubu should please come to our aid. We’re tired.
“We’ve been here since 8 a.m., no food, no attention. Is this the reward for our loyalty?,” Balogun questioned.
Another protester, Asabi Adejuwon, expressed frustration at being used during campaigns but ignored afterwards.
“Ojelabi betrayed us. We were the ones mobilising people to vote.
“People didn’t want to vote because there’s no food, no jobs, no support from the party. Our children are not benefitting,” she said tearfully.
A visibly angry party elder from Onigbogbo LCDA, Alhaji Talibu Lawal, accused Faleke and other party leaders of single-handedly selecting local government appointees.
Lawal said, “Faleke, Ojelabi, and Alhaja Akerele should leave.
“They keep imposing people on us.
“We, the grassroots Excos, voted while the people stayed home.
“They are destroying Ikeja. If this continues, they will destroy Lagos for Tinubu.”
Many of the protesters said they were hoping to present a formal petition to Governor Sanwo-Olu, accusing the party hierarchy of creating divisions and discouraging active political participation.
