Crisis In Lagos APC! Agbado/Oke-Odo Chairmanship Bid Tears Party Apart

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing growing internal tension following its recent local government primary elections, with the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) at the center of controversy.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

A rift has emerged within the party’s local chapter, as one faction strongly supports Abiodun Ejigbadero as the chairmanship candidate, while others reject his emergence, alleging that the process was manipulated and the candidate imposed.

In a communiqué dated May 27, 2025, APC leaders in Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA reaffirmed their backing for Ejigbadero. They dismissed the outcry following the May 10 primary as the actions of a “disgruntled aspirant” driven by selfish motives. The statement, signed by Chairman E.O. Adedeji and Acting Secretary Shola Akande, read:

“We, the APC leaders in Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA, fully accept the emergence of Abiodun Ejigbadero as the party’s chairmanship candidate. We pledge our complete support to secure APC’s victory in the upcoming election. We stand firmly by the party’s decision and the outcome of the primaries.”

The statement also called for unity among party members and urged everyone to prioritize the collective success of the APC.

However, at a separate press briefing on Friday, APC Apex Leader Olusegun Shodiya — representing a rival faction — challenged Ejigbadero’s candidacy. Shodiya claimed Ejigbadero lacked any meaningful history with the APC and did not win the primary election.

“We’ve taken this principled stand in the long-term interest of the APC,” Shodiya said. “No reasonable party loyalist should accept a candidate imposed without merit, unless the intention is to weaken the party.”

Standing alongside party figures such as Olanrewaju Baruwa, Olamigoke Phillips, and Funmilayo Ojelabi, Shodiya reiterated the group’s support for incumbent chairman David Famuyiwa to pursue a second term, citing his commendable service and loyalty to the party.

This internal dispute in Agbado/Oke-Odo mirrors similar tensions in other areas including Agege, Orile Agege, and Yaba, where APC members have rejected the results of primaries that produced chairmanship and councillorship candidates.

Speaking with Punch, APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo acknowledged the crisis and assured that reconciliation efforts are ongoing.

“Engagements are happening at both the local and state levels,” Oladejo stated. “These disagreements are expected due to the competitive nature of the primaries. It’s not unusual — we’ve managed such issues before, and we will do so again.”