By Esther Onyegbula

A coalition of civil society organizations has declared that the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) local government primaries in Somolu were conducted in line with democratic principles and the party’s constitution, urging aggrieved parties to seek redress through lawful means rather than stoking unrest.

At a press conference held at the Somolu Local Government Secretariat on Thursday, the Convener of the Civil Society Initiative, Comrade Buna Isiaka, strongly affirmed that the primary elections were credible and transparent, as observed by several independent monitors.

“We wish to clearly state that the outcome of the Somolu APC primaries was in accordance with the rule of law and due democratic processes,” Isiaka said. “As in every democratic exercise, there must be both winners and losers. However, it is critical that all actors, especially the aggrieved, respond with maturity, democratic ethics, and sportsmanship.”

The civil society coalition condemned any moves to incite violence or disrupt public order in response to the results, emphasizing that democracy offers legitimate avenues for dispute resolution.

“Any candidate or stakeholder dissatisfied with the process should pursue legitimate appeal procedures through the party’s internal mechanisms and the judicial system,” Isiaka added. “Resorting to incitement or threats is not acceptable.”

Addressing growing concerns over attempts to introduce religious tension into the post-primary discourse, Isiaka criticized a letter allegedly circulated by a local Imam expressing grievances about the process. He noted that the letter was a personal opinion and had been disowned by the broader Muslim community in Somolu.

“It is disappointing that some aggrieved parties have attempted to introduce religious sentiment to challenge the outcome of a democratic process. Such actions are detrimental to the peace and unity of our community,” he said.

The Civil Society Initiative maintained that independent observers, including human rights groups, found no evidence of ethnic or religious bias during the primaries. Isiaka called on political actors to prioritize unity over division and reject the use of religion or ethnicity to destabilize the community.

According to a community leader Saka Ibrahim, “We urge all APC members and political actors to desist from dividing our community along religious or ethnic lines. Politics should never override our shared values of coexistence, harmony, and mutual respect.”

The group also commended the leadership of the Somolu Local Government for maintaining peace and order during the election period, citing their calm and impartial handling of the process.

In a bid to strengthen civic unity and democratic values, the Civil Society Initiative proposed a joint peace and democracy rally to bring together residents and stakeholders in support of non-violence and constitutional order.

Other civil society groups present at the briefing included Youth Care Network, represented by Babatunde Fasasi; Center for Restoration of Values, led by Salami Gbenga; and Comrade Olaide Babalola, Secretary of the Civil Society Initiative.

The Somolu APC primaries have drawn attention in recent days following protests by some factions within the party and unverified claims of bias. However, today’s declaration by civil monitors may ease rising tensions in the community.