‘Lagos APC ready for 2027’

•’No room for complacency’ •‘Party will monitor council chairmen’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State is putting its house in order ahead of future polls.

Cornelius Ojelabi, cleric and chairman of the chapter, said party members are ready for 2027, stressing that the leadership is girding its loins.

“We are looking inward to have the statistical data of our members through e-registration,” he said, stressing that it is the critical baseline for mobilisation with certainty.

Tragedy befell the party in 2023 when it lost the presidential election to the structureless Labour Party (LP) adopted by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as platform. Although the poll-confident Lagos APC won other layers of elections, its ego was momentarily deflated.

For the first time in his entire illustrious political career, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lost his home base to a political foe.

Having learned very instructive lessons from that inexplicable complacency, the chapter has vowed that the curious mistake will not be repeated in the Centre of Excellence.

The Lagos APC has been up and doing. The party is more cohesive than before. There is peace in the state executive committee of the party. There is harmony in the State Executive Council chaired by Governor Babatunde Sanwo-Olu. There is no friction between the party and the government. The Governance Advisory Council (GAC) is playing its gerontocratic roles. The tension between the governor and House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa is fading. The friction among the state lawmakers is fizzling out.

Ahead of the March party congresses, Ojelabi has informed the vast members that the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) has decided that they should obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He said old members are expected to revalidate their party membership and new or those yet to be registered should avail themselves of the opportunity.

Ojelabi spoke with reporters at the party secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja. With him were the vice chairman, Moshood Mayegun, Secretary, Dr. Adeola Jokomba, Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser Folasade Bakare, Youth Leader Dr. Muritala Seriki, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, former Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner Dr. Lateef Ibirogba, and former council chairman, Abiodun Mafe.

The membership registration, which kicked off across the pre-existing 245 wards,is expected to end on January 31.

The chairman said: “The registration will be done at the ward level. Possession of PVC is critical to permanent registration. Without PVC, you register temporarily.”

Urging party members to actively participate in the democratic responsibility,Ojelabi said:”This is our country. We don’t have another country. Let us always remember our president, governors and other leaders in our prayers.”

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Echoing the chairman, the Publicity Secretary  Seye Oladejo, said:”E-registration is imperative because our party has become larger as more members are coming in.”

To motivate members to participate, the party has introduced some incentives across the wards and local governments.

Ojelabi urged Nigerians to join the president in creating a peaceful atmosphere, saying:”If there is peace, our leaders will be able to tackle all the challenges.”

In particular, the party chairman called for support for President Tinubu in his bid to halt insecurity.

Ojelabi spoke on internal democracy, reconciliation in the chapter and efforts to foster accountability in the local government.

He dismissed insinuations that imposition of candidates for elections is rampant in Lagos APC, clarifying that loyalty, dedication and commitment are criteria for the choice of candidates.

Noting the grievances of some party members arising from local government nomination politics, the  chairman disclosed that reconciliation has been set up preparatory to the congresses.

He also noted the anxiety on the part of members who anticipate positions in the councils as secretaries, supervisors and other aides, assuring that the announcement would be made soon across the local governments.

Ojelabi hailed the healthy competitions among council chairmen for performance, saying that it is in the interest of Lagosians. He noted that many of them have justified the confidence reposed in them by the grassroots.

The chairman reminded the council chairmen that the directive that mandates them to live within the jurisdiction of the council was still in force.

Ojelabi said the chairmen would be closely monitored to ensure that they maximally deliver democratic dividends to Lagosians.

He added:”We have set up the Assessment Committee on senatorial basis that will exaamine them as they showcase their performance. Assessment will also be on yearly basis. This is aside from the oversight by the House of Assembly.”