The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified its reconciliation efforts with some members who felt sidelined or ignored during the recent primaries. TIMILEHIN BABATOPE reports.
With the July 12 local government elections fast approaching, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a comprehensive reconciliation drive aimed at healing internal divisions and restoring party unity. The initiative follows months of internal discord triggered by the party’s controversial primaries, which left many members aggrieved and exposed widening cracks in what was once Nigeria’s most cohesive state political machine.
The primaries, held on May 11, were intended to set the stage for a smooth electoral campaign. Instead, they reignited long-standing grievances, including allegations of candidate imposition, a growing generational divide, and exclusion of grassroots voices. While the APC leadership announced that 55 out of 57 chairmanship candidates had emerged from the exercise, the fallout has been anything but settled.
In response, the party has initiated a high-level reconciliation process to address the discontent and reposition itself ahead of the polls. The stakes are high—not only does the APC aim to retain its hold over all 20 local government areas (LGAs) and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs), but the outcome will also have implications for the party’s strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Lagos APC has enjoyed uninterrupted control of the state since the return to democratic rule in 1999. However, recent years have seen a weakening of its internal cohesion. The 2023 general elections exposed the party’s vulnerabilities, as it suffered unexpected losses and saw the opposition gain traction in previously unassailable strongholds.
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The recent primaries have only compounded the situation. Party loyalists, including youth leaders and women’s groups, voiced frustration over what they described as a top-down approach that disregarded local consensus. Accusations of favouritism, imposition of candidates, and opaque decision-making processes have left a trail of disillusionment, prompting fears of voter apathy, defections, and even internal sabotage.
Political analyst Kemi Bamidele summarised the situation this way: “People are increasingly disillusioned with the way the party conducts its affairs. They don’t feel like they have a say.”
To avert a political crisis, the APC has constituted a Reconciliation Committee composed of party elders, respected youth and women leaders, and neutral observers. The committee’s mandate is clear: identify aggrieved factions, resolve disputes through dialogue, and reintegrate estranged members into the party’s campaign framework.
Heading the committee is former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, whose return to the political fold is both symbolic and strategic. Denied a second term in office over six years ago, Ambode’s appointment is seen as an attempt to bridge the gap between old power structures and emerging reformist voices.
At the committee’s inauguration in April, Ambode struck a conciliatory tone. “We cannot let personal ambitions undermine the legacy and future of the APC in Lagos,” he said. “Reconciliation is not optional; it is imperative.”
Since then, Ambode and his team have been engaged in a state-wide outreach, holding discreet meetings with faction leaders, youth groups, ward-level stakeholders, and previously marginalised members. The consultations, described by insiders as intense and deeply personal, culminated in a mid-May peace accord that party leaders hailed as a breakthrough.
The reconciliation strategy is multifaceted. It includes one-on-one consultations with aggrieved individuals, ward-level town halls to foster open dialogue, and closed-door meetings with power brokers to resolve entrenched disputes. In areas where the primaries remain contentious, the party is considering a review or revalidation of results to restore confidence in the process.
“We need all hands on deck,” said a senior party official who requested anonymity. “Some members feel sidelined or ignored, especially after the primaries. We are now listening to everyone and making necessary adjustments to move forward as one family.”
To further consolidate peace, the APC has established a conflict resolution desk at its state secretariat. The desk will serve as a formal channel for airing grievances and proposing solutions. Additionally, the party has instituted weekly review meetings to assess the progress of the reconciliation efforts and make necessary course corrections.
A key aspect of the peace initiative involves reassigning meaningful roles to previously marginalised members. Many of them are now being integrated into campaign councils and have been promised future appointments. Reconciled leaders are also being prominently featured at campaign events, symbolising a renewed sense of unity and inclusiveness.
In the coming days, the APC plans to roll out a strategic messaging campaign tagged “One APC, One Lagos.” The initiative aims to amplify the themes of reconciliation, unity, and inclusiveness across multiple platforms, including social media, community radio, and party bulletins.
“The idea is to shift the narrative,” said another party insider. “People need to see that this is not just politics as usual. We are serious about rebuilding trust and restoring faith in the party.”
Still, not everyone is convinced. Adejoke Balogun, a vocal youth leader, has been critical of what she sees as superficial gestures. “There’s a difference between sitting at a table and having a voice,” she said. “Until young people see real inclusion and not just lip service, this is just politics as usual.”
Many observers caution that the current peace may be more of a tactical ceasefire than a lasting transformation. While the reconciliation effort has created an appearance of calm, the underlying tensions—factionalism, generational divides, and concerns over internal democracy—have yet to be fully addressed.
According to party sources, some factions have agreed to suspend open opposition until after the council polls, choosing to “wait and see” how the leadership follows through on its promises. The real test, they say, will come in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
“For now, everyone is playing along because nobody wants to be blamed for losing Lagos,” said a long-time party member. “But if things don’t change fundamentally, this crisis will resurface.”
Beyond Lagos, the reconciliation effort carries national significance. As the traditional political stronghold of the APC, the state’s unity is crucial to the party’s broader strategic interests. A fractured Lagos chapter could embolden opposition parties and complicate the APC’s roadmap to retaining power in future national contests.
The local council elections, while technically grassroots in scope, serve as a litmus test for the APC’s organisational capacity and internal health. With all eyes now on Lagos, the coming weeks will reveal whether the party has done enough to patch up its internal rifts—or merely postponed an inevitable reckoning.
For now, the Lagos APC appears determined to present a united front. Whether that unity is substantive or symbolic will become clear not just at the ballot box on July 12, but in how the party navigates the turbulent waters that lie ahead.
