Ta’awun Forum Faults APC’s Indirect Primary Model Ahead of Lagos LG Polls
By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Ta’awun Political Forum has raised concerns over the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s decision to adopt an indirect primary model for the upcoming chairmanship and councillorship elections scheduled for Saturday, May 10, in Lagos State.
In a statement signed by its president, Taiwo Lasisi, the forum urged the ruling party to uphold internal democracy and transparent electoral practices, citing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence through a direct primary in the APC presidential primaries in June 2022 as a model for democratic legitimacy.
“President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a symbol of democratic authority, having secured his mandate through a direct primary and a popular general election—not through imposition or an indirect process that robs party members of their electoral rights,” Lasisi stated.
While acknowledging that consensus arrangements can be a democratic tool, the forum warned against using them to marginalise party members or silence dissenting voices. Lasisi stressed the importance of considering the political contributions and diversity of party stakeholders when selecting candidates.
He also referenced a Yoruba proverb to highlight the dangers of political hypocrisy, stating that most opposition to undemocratic practices often stems from exclusion rather than principle.
“In our political culture, fairness and sincerity in power-sharing reduce post-election disputes, court cases, and internal party conflicts,” the statement added.
The Ta’awun Political Forum urged the APC leadership to embrace inclusive and transparent decision-making processes as the party prepares for the May 10 primaries, warning that anything short of this could threaten party unity and the credibility of its candidates.