Dare Babalola
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ruled out the possibility of imposing candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, with its chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi.
The state chairman declared that all aspirants will be subjected to a competitive and transparent selection process.
Ojelabi made this known in a statement issued on Thursday following the party’s national convention, where new officials emerged across different levels of the party structure.
He commended party leaders and members for what he described as a successful convention, attributing its outcome to their resilience and collective commitment.
According to him, with the convention concluded, the party’s attention is now firmly on the process of selecting candidates who will fly its flag in the next electoral cycle.
He stressed that the exercise would strictly adhere to the timetable set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The APC chairman disclosed that the party is favouring the adoption of direct primaries, a system that allows all registered members to participate in choosing candidates, as part of efforts to deepen internal democracy.
He, however, noted that consensus arrangements could still be entertained where they are voluntarily agreed upon and widely accepted by stakeholders.
Ojelabi emphasised that all elective positions in the party would be open for contest, insisting that there would be no room for “anointed” or preferred candidates.
“We encourage all members who wish to contest to do so in accordance with the law,” he said, adding that nomination and administrative fees paid by aspirants would not be refunded.
He assured party members of a level playing field, pledging that the primary elections would be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner capable of producing credible candidates across constituencies.
The chairman also reaffirmed the party’s commitment to inclusivity, noting that female aspirants with strong grassroots support would receive special consideration as part of efforts to improve gender representation within the party.
While reiterating the APC’s democratic principles, Ojelabi cautioned against any attempt to manipulate the process, warning that the party would neither impose candidates nor interfere with the outcome of its primaries.
“As a party built on structure and democratic ideals, we urge members to conduct themselves with discipline, mutual respect, and decorum as we await detailed guidelines from the national leadership,” he added.
