By Olayinka Latona

The United Action for Democracy (UAD), a coalition committed to promoting transparency, justice, and democratic accountability in Nigeria, has raised concerns over widespread electoral malpractice during the recently conducted All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government primary elections in Lagos State.

In a petition, UAD highlighted severe irregularities and violations of democratic norms in elections supervised by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). Allegations include the disenfranchisement of legitimate party members, vote manipulation, and the imposition of candidates—actions that reportedly breach both the Nigerian Electoral Act and the internal regulations of the APC.

Documented cases of electoral fraud were cited in several LGAs and LCDAs, including Alimosho, Lagos Island, Agege, and Agbado-Okeodo. Protesters have expressed outrage over the exclusion of eligible delegates and the announcement of pre-selected candidates as winners without due process. LASIEC officials were also accused of falsifying ballot counts and declaring predetermined results.

Independent observers, party agents, and journalists were allegedly harassed, threatened, or removed from collation centers.

Speaking at a press briefing, Comrade Kunle Wizeman Ajayi stressed that while candidate screening is typically an internal party affair, the extent of the malpractice necessitates public intervention.

“It has become imperative for us at United Action for Democracy to speak out, because members of these political parties have taken to the streets and made these issues public. This is no longer just an internal matter. These protests reflect a broader crisis in our democracy. As stakeholders, we must raise our voices,” he said.

Ajayi further stated: “These patterns of misconduct cannot be addressed solely through police petitions. In many cases, police officers were present but failed to act. We are here to inform Nigerians of the dire state of our electoral system.”

Also speaking, Comrade Wale Balogun warned that the internal crisis within the APC poses a threat not only to Lagos State but to the nation as a whole.

Quoting a proverb, “Fish feed on fish,” Balogun said, “The internal conflicts within the APC should concern everyone. This is the ruling party not only in Lagos but at the federal level. The recent nomination of the INEC chairman by the President underscores the risk of these local-level issues spreading nationwide. We cannot afford to wait.”

Reflecting on UAD’s history, Balogun noted, “When many Nigerians were indifferent, UAD lawfully stood against military rule until power was handed over to civilians in 1999. Today, we are faced with a new threat: the absence of internal democracy within political parties. What we see now are stage-managed processes disguised as democracy.”

He concluded by highlighting the gravity of the current crisis: “The ongoing protests across Lagos are rooted in the rejection of imposed politicians who do not represent their constituencies. Delegates are being denied their rights, and communities are being sidelined. If these practices are allowed to continue, they may become a dangerous precedent for other political parties ahead of the July 12 local government elections. This is a direct assault on the autonomy of Local Governments.”