By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Lagos State, has expressed concerns over the leadership lacuna in running the affairs, resulting in tension and factionalisation among members.

The executive members of the committee, led by the Deputy Chairman, Mr Akinwande Osikominu, raised the alarm at a news conference in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, after an emergency meeting.

The committee accused the State Chairman of the party, Mr King Okuneye, of high-handedness as well as manipulating the party’s primaries and sidelining party leaders.

Osikominu said Okuneye was allegedly operating the party without transparency and excluding elected officials from critical decisions.

According to him, the chairman’s actions have deepened divisions within the party and threatened its chances in future elections.

He alleged that the crisis reached a climax during the conduct of the party’s primaries.

We stand before you today with a heavy sense of responsibility and deep concern for the future of our party in Lagos State.

“After careful deliberation and wide consultations with critical stakeholders, the Executive Committee of NDC Lagos State has found it necessary to publicly highlight serious complaints and grievances regarding the leadership style of the State Chairman, King Okuneye.

“These issues centre primarily on the systematic exclusion of the State Executive Committee from the running of party affairs, coupled with persistent leadership lapses that are undermining our collective efforts. This address is not taken lightly.

“Our earlier public defence of the State Working Committee was issued in good faith to shield the party’s image and preserve unity during a sensitive period.”

Osikominu, however, stressed that emerging realities from direct interactions with members, aspirants, and grassroots structures across the state have made it imperative for the committee to speak out in the overriding interest of the party’s survival, integrity, and prospects ahead of primary elections.

The committee added, “We wish to state categorically that: We remain fully loyal to the National Leadership of the NDC and have never acted in defiance of the National Executive Committee.

“We were not aware of any parallel arrangements by certain national officers to directly superintend Lagos State affairs without involving the State Executive.

“Our position today is driven purely by the best interest of the party and the urgent need for transparency and inclusiveness.”

Key complaints against the leadership of Okuneye include: lack of residency and disconnect from Lagos realities. King Okuneye has been resident outside of Lagos State for several years, which prolonged physical absence has created a significant operational disconnect, impairing his ability to understand and respond to the unique dynamics, challenges, and opportunities in Lagos.

Gross mismanagement of the primaries election process and exclusion of the state executives.

The committee continued: “The Lagos State Deputy Chairman was duly appointed as Chairman of the Lagos State Primaries Election Management Committee. Yet, the committee was neither properly briefed on its responsibilities nor provided with any funding or basic equipment.

“We were reduced to using pen and paper for manual collation of results. Even after compilation, we had to conduct photocopying and stapling in hotels during odd hours of the night.

“Most embarrassingly, the State Exco was kept completely in the dark about the establishment of any parallel election committee by the National Body.

“We only learned of its existence during collation. This level of secrecy and exclusion sidelined the entire Executive Committee, leaving us humiliated and eroding trust in the leadership.

“Despite earlier assurances, the State Chairman has refused to formally publish and circulate the authentic list of LGA leaders to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders. This has bred widespread confusion at the grassroots level, with multiple individuals claiming legitimacy across various LGAs.

“The resulting tension and factionalisation stem directly from this opacity and the exclusion of the State Exco from key decision-making. Such structural ambiguity severely hampers our readiness for elections.

“Financial Exploitation, Lack of Accountability, and Abuse of Party Funds:
Multiple aspirants have lodged consistent, verifiable complaints about exorbitant demands for funds to “influence outcomes,” secure favourable reports, or gain access to party processes.

“Party funds are routinely channelled into the Chairman’s personal accounts and other unofficial channels, with zero disclosure, no audits, and no accountability.

“Manipulation of Election Reports and Undermining Collective Decisions:
The Chairman stands accused of unilaterally altering election reports and results that were previously agreed upon through collaborative processes.
This breach has further fractured internal cohesion and deepened the sense of exclusion felt by the State Exco.

“True leadership demands presence, transparency, accountability, teamwork, and the ability to unify. Regrettably, Hon. King Okuneye has consistently operated independently of the State Executive Committee, sidelining duly elected members, creating parallel structures, and failing to carry the team along.
This exclusionary style has alienated committed members and aspirants who are eager to build a strong, credible opposition in Lagos.

“We are convinced that these persistent issues, particularly the marginalisation of the State Exco, will make it extremely difficult for the NDC to mount any meaningful challenge in the forthcoming general elections unless urgently addressed.

“If we are genuinely committed to victory, we must confront these realities head-on and insist on leadership that embraces inclusiveness, competence, and collective responsibility.

“The NDC must move beyond secrecy, exploitation, and exclusionary practices. The era of operating the party as a personal enterprise must end if we are to earn the trust of Lagosians.”

Other state executive committee members at the news conference included: Betty Nwadike (Vice Chairman, Central), Olushile Akinyemi (Publicity Secretary), Chioma Ifeanyichukwu (Assistant Welfare Secretary), John Mabayomije (Treasurer), and Osita Odobor (Assistant Treasurer).

Others are Mrs Jaiyeola Taiwo (Woman Leader) as well as some ex-officio members, local government council chairmen, aspirants and some members.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach Okuneye for reaction proved abortive at press time, as he did not respond to calls and messages sent to his mobile number.