LG poll: APC's loyalists, others urge Tinubu to reverse imposition in Somolu
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Somolu Local Council of Lagos State has taken a new dimension as stakeholders and party loyalists have called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what they described as an injustice in the party’s chairmanship selection process.
At the centre of the controversy is Bowale Sosimi, a grassroots politician and long-time APC loyalist, who was reportedly endorsed as the consensus candidate by the local party’s structure.
However, in a last-minute twist, his name was dropped in favour of another aspirant, leading to widespread anger and allegations of manipulation.
The aggrieved groups said this was not the first time Sosimi has faced such a political setback, saying: “In 2017, his name was similarly withdrawn from the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) list after a last-minute change to the party’s nomination process — a move allegedly orchestrated by the late Senator Bayo Osinowo. The decision eventually paved the way for Abdul Hamed Salawu (Dullar), who has now completed two terms as chairman.
“Many had believed history would not repeat itself in 2025, alas, the ugly incident was repeated again.”
The stakeholders alleged that the APC’s election coordinator in Lagos State and a close ally of President Tinubu played a key role in truncating Sosimi’s candidacy by allegedly using religion as a political tool to justify the imposition of a different aspirant.
RELATEDLY, a group of leaders and stakeholders of the APC in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have demanded the conduct of a fresh chairmanship primary ahead of the council elections.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala, the group strongly criticised the reported selection of a candidate without due process, describing it as “undemocratic, provocative, and a direct affront to the will of the people.”
The petition was jointly signed by representatives from all nine wards in Yaba LCDA. The group warned that any attempt to impose a candidate could erode party’s unity, provoke internal unrest, and damage the party’s credibility and electoral prospects in the LCDA.
It, therefore, called on the party’s leadership to act swiftly to stop what they described as “an external imposition,” cautioning that failure to address the issue could result in long-term consequences for the party’s cohesion and performance in future elections.
