By Blessing Fali
The crisis within the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State has deepened, as concerned stakeholders have called on the party’s leadership to intervene and restore Stephen Olukayode Ogundipe as the party’s candidate for Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I.
The demand was made at an APC Oshodi-Isolo Stakeholders Forum in Lagos, where members of the Concerned Stakeholders Forum and The Mandate Movement expressed concern over the controversy surrounding the party’s primary election.
The stakeholders maintained that Ogundipe emerged victorious in the primary and should be allowed to retain the party’s ticket. They argued that his legislative experience, grassroots support and loyalty to the APC made him a strong candidate for the 2027 election.
The controversy followed conflicting claims over the outcome of the May primary. While reports from the initial exercise indicated that Ogundipe won with 11,939 votes against Mayowa Alakija’s 3,086, the APC state secretariat later declared Alakija the winner.
The stakeholders alleged that Ogundipe’s name was subsequently substituted and raised concerns over alleged interference in party structures, removal of party executives and the suspension of some party elders.
They therefore demanded an independent investigation into the disputed primary, the establishment of a neutral reconciliation committee and a review of actions they said were inconsistent with the APC Constitution.
The group also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and other APC leaders to urgently intervene and prevent the disagreement from further weakening the party in Oshodi-Isolo.
The stakeholders insisted that their position was aimed at protecting internal democracy, rewarding party loyalty and preserving unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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