By Ghazali Ibrahim 
A stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State spiraled into chaos on Monday, following allegations that Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, was attempting to impose another person as the chairmanship candidate outside the council.
According to Lagos Reporter, the meeting, held at 7, Ijaoye Street, began peacefully at around 4:00 p.m. but was soon disrupted by a group of aggrieved party members who stormed the venue chanting protest slogans and denouncing what they described as external political interference.
Chants of “Ole!” (Thief), “We can’t take it,” and “Obasa can’t control us from Agege” echoed through the gathering as protesters brandished placards bearing messages like “Who knows Sanusi?” and “We won’t allow a stranger rule us here.”
The demonstrators claimed the Speaker was backing a chairmanship aspirant allegedly imported from Agege, a neighboring local government area.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, protest leader Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye accused party leaders of attempting to foist a non-indigene on Ojokoro, sidelining grassroots party members who have worked within the community.
“This meeting was meant to rubber-stamp a candidate with no roots here. We are rejecting imposition,” he declared.
“There are 18 credible aspirants from Ojokoro itself, and they all deserve a fair contest.”
Another protester, Bola Ojetayo, criticized what she described as a persistent disregard for democratic principles within the party.
“This is our home. We cannot allow strangers to come and lead us,” she said. “Our leaders must respect our voice. Leadership decisions should not be made in Agege for Ojokoro.”
Amid the rising tension, Hon. James Owolabi, a former member of the House of Representatives and respected APC figure in Ojokoro, stepped in to appeal for calm.
“You have a voice in this party,” he told the crowd. “Let’s continue to express our grievances peacefully and not resort to violence.”
Also in attendance at the fraught meeting were Jelili Oseni, the incumbent council chairman, and Ipoola Omisore, a former member of the Lagos State Assembly.
With the 2025 local government elections on the horizon, the turmoil within Ojokoro APC underscores growing discontent over alleged top-down candidate selection processes.
Meanwhile, Obasa is yet to react or issue statement with regards to the allegations.
