Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have strongly opposed the alleged imposition of Bayo Adefuye as the party’s chairmanship candidate for the forthcoming council elections, citing his lack of political roots and community involvement.

In a protest letter addressed to the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), the party leaders described the move as “undemocratic, provocative, and a clear affront to the will of the people.”

The letter, jointly signed by ward representatives from all nine wards in the LCDA, cautioned that the alleged imposition could erode the party’s integrity and provoke unrest among loyal members.

The leaders warned that the imposition of Adefuye, could jeopardise the party’s credibility and electoral success in the area.

MEANWHILE, worried by the protests trailing the APC council primary election, the United Action Democracy (UAD) has called for an independent investigation and prosecution of all Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) and party officials involved in the manipulation of the election.

General Secretary of the group, Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, who spoke, yesterday, during a media briefing, said that if actions are not urgently taken, the development would threaten the sanctity of the democratic process, and set a dangerous precedent for future elections.

The UAD, while demanding the immediate suspension and arrest of the LASIEC chairman for colluding in electoral fraud and abuse of public office, called for an independent investigation and prosecution of all LASIEC and APC officials involved in the manipulation of the primary elections.

He said: “We are also demanding for visa bans and international sanctions against the LASIEC chairman and all officials involved, including denial of entry into the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), and other democratic nations.

“We call on all other parties to rise against LASIEC and the expected rogue elections that are coming. If these actions are not taken, UAD warns that this subversion of democracy could serve as a template for electoral theft in the 2027 elections and further alienate Nigerians from democratic participation.

“We stand firm in our resolve to expose, challenge, and resist all forms of anti-democratic manipulation. We call on all lovers of democracy, within and outside Nigeria, to join in the struggle. We also declare that the local council autonomy and democracy, thus far, have been a ruse. And for us, there is no prospect for a better future for our democracy.”

However, when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of LASIEC, Tope Ojo, said he was not in a position to speak on the issue except the commission’s chairman. He, however, did not send the chairman’s contact as promised at the time of filing this report.