By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Tensions have emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the eligibility of individuals who have previously served as Vice Chairmen or have been sworn into office twice to contest in the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos State.
The debate, which has triggered petitions and threatened protests in parts of the state, particularly in Agbado-Oke Odo and Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), was recently brought to light by a pro-democracy group questioning the legality of repeat candidacies.
In an online exchange, a party chieftain, Otunba Rasaq Ambali, raised concerns about the eligibility status of such individuals. “I heard that those who have been Vice Chairman twice or have been sworn in twice cannot contest. Is it true?” he asked.
Responding to the inquiry, local news outlet Kosofe Post dismissed the claim, explaining that there is no APC guideline or constitutional provision barring such candidates from contesting. The platform referenced the recent party screening exercise, which cleared one of the candidates in question.
“If that were true, the APC screening committee, chaired by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former National Legal Adviser of the APC, Babatunde Ogala, with Babarinde Nurudeen as Secretary, would not have cleared her or ranked her with the highest score,” the report stated.
SEE: APC Lagos State Releases Screening Results for Local Government Primaries
Following the clarification, Otunba Ambali acknowledged the explanation, signalling an end to the controversy surrounding the eligibility of long-serving candidates.
The clarification comes as a relief to party aspirants and stakeholders ahead of the APC primaries, easing internal tensions and reinforcing the credibility of the party’s screening process.