In a controversial turn of events just weeks before the July 12 local government elections, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced a change in its mode of selecting candidates—switching from direct to indirect primaries.
This policy shift has sparked discontent among thousands of aspirants (chairmanship and councillorship aspirants) who had purchased nomination forms with the expectation of a direct voting process involving all party members.
From the beginning, the party planned to adopt direct primaries, a system that allows every registered member of the party to vote for their preferred chairmanship and councillorship candidates. However, the new directive replaces that method with an indirect process where only accredited delegates will vote.
This raised concerns over transparency and fairness within the party’s ranks.
Critics within the APC argue that the switch favors political power brokers who can easily influence delegate voting, thereby sidelining grassroots voices.
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“This move shuts out the wider party base,” several disgruntled aspirants lamented. “It’s a clear strategy to impose preferred candidates and block popular choices from emerging.”
According to the revised guidelines, candidates will emerge through indirect primaries unless a consensus is reached ahead of the vote. For chairmanship positions, only members of the Local Government Executive Committee will be eligible to vote.
The process mandates all accredited delegates to present both their APC membership cards and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) linked to their respective wards or local government areas. Voting will occur at venues specified by the party’s Electoral Committee, using the indirect model that critics argue undermines internal party democracy.
With tensions mounting and election day drawing near, all eyes are now on the APC leadership in Lagos as they navigate growing dissatisfaction and the challenge of maintaining party unity.
