“Only NWC can declare results” — APC stakeholders fault Lagos leadership

Michael Olumide

A coalition of concerned stakeholders within the ruling All Progressives Congress has called on the National Chairman of the party to urgently intervene in the controversy surrounding the recently conducted primary elections in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

In an open letter addressed to the National Chairman of the APC, National Chairman, Movement For Greater Nigeria and National Vice Chairman of the Consolidated APC Grassroots Movement (CaGRam) Southwest, Comrade Okedara Kolawole, alleged attempts by some leaders of the Lagos State chapter of the party to undermine the outcome of the primaries despite what he described as a peaceful and credible electoral process.

According to the letter, stakeholders who monitored and participated in the exercise observed that Honorable Ganiyu Adele Ayuba emerged victorious in the Alimosho primary election, with video and pictorial evidence allegedly supporting the outcome.

The group, however, expressed concern over what it described as efforts by the Lagos State APC leadership to impose preferred candidates and interfere with the process, warning that such actions could trigger unrest within the party and the wider community.

Kolawole referenced the National Chairman’s recent appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Sunday, May 24, 2026, during which assurances were reportedly given that all petitions arising from the primaries would receive urgent consideration by the National Working Committee (NWC).

He also recalled the Chairman’s statement that only the appropriate national organ of the party possesses the authority to officially declare and validate the results of the APC primaries nationwide.

The stakeholders lamented that despite these assurances, alleged unofficial “final results” had continued to circulate across media platforms, including reports attributed to The Nation newspaper, creating confusion and tension among party members.

The letter accused the Lagos State chapter of acting contrary to the directives of the national leadership, stressing that premature publication of unofficial outcomes could undermine the integrity of the APC’s internal democratic processes.

According to the group, the circulation of conflicting results has heightened political tension among supporters of aspirants in several constituencies, particularly where the publications allegedly contradict observations made during voting and collation exercises.

The stakeholders argued that petitions and appeals filed by aggrieved aspirants are yet to be fully determined by the NWC in accordance with the party’s guidelines, insisting that no declaration should be treated as final until internal dispute resolution mechanisms have been exhausted.

The group therefore called on the APC leadership to urgently expedite the hearing and determination of all pending petitions and appeals arising from the primaries.

They further urged the National Working Committee to publicly reaffirm that only the designated national directorate of the party is empowered to announce final and binding primary election results.

The letter also appealed for an official clarification on the status of the process to discourage reliance on speculative media reports and restore confidence among party faithful and stakeholders.

The stakeholders maintained that the eventual declaration of results must reflect transparency, due process, and verifiable outcomes capable of earning the confidence and acceptance of all aspirants and their supporters.

Kolawole stressed that the strength of the APC lies not only in electoral victories but also in the credibility of its internal democratic structures and disciplinary processes.

He warned that failure to address the concerns transparently could weaken public confidence in the party at a time when democratic institutions are under increasing scrutiny nationwide.

The letter urged the National Working Committee, under the leadership of the APC National Chairman, to act decisively to preserve party unity, prevent avoidable unrest, and protect the integrity of the ruling party ahead of future elections.

Copies of the open letter were also addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, APC officials in Lagos State, and Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye.