Stakeholders in the Surulere chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have accused the camp of Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu, of attempting to impose a preferred female aspirant for the Lagos state house of assembly seat.
Party stakeholders, who did not want to be named, alleged that the selection process has been skewed in favour of the unnamed female aspirant even before the primaries.
They further alleged that Gbajabiamila’s camp is sidelining Desmond Elliott, the incumbent lawmaker representing the area, adding that intimidation and threats are being employed against dissenting voices.
“Nobody should play God in Surulere politics. The arrogance of power must stop. Party members should be allowed to choose their candidate freely,” one of the party stakeholders told TheCable.
The sources claimed that appointees and loyalists are being intimidated with threats of losing their positions if they fail to support the preferred candidate.
They also questioned the open partisanship displayed by some leaders, particularly Sharif Balogun, the chairman of Surulere LGA, who they alleged has directed ward chairmen and party executives to mobilise support for the aspirant.
“How can a council chairman leave his work and be following an aspirant around? Leaders should create a level playing field, not openly take sides,” one of the stakeholders said.
There are also claims that loyalists of rival aspirants have been removed from party structures and excluded from council empowerment programmes.
Earlier this month, prominent political stakeholders in the Surulere 1 constituency threw their weight behind Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, former aide to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos.
