A petition filed by the United Action for Democracy (UAD) has uncovered shocking irregularities during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government primary elections in Lagos State. The coalition has accused the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) of facilitating widespread electoral fraud, casting a shadow over the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process. With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, these alleged malpractices have raised alarm bells among experts, who warn that such trends could erode public trust in governance and set a dangerous precedent for future elections.
The UAD highlights several alarming trends observed during the recent primaries:
- Disenfranchisement: Legitimate party members and delegates were barred from participating in the voting process.
- Vote Manipulation: Ballot counts were allegedly falsified, with pre-selected candidates declared winners without proper collation.
- Intimidation Tactics: Observers, party agents, and journalists were threatened or expelled from polling stations.
Instances of malpractice were documented in key LGAs and LCDAs such as Alimosho, Lagos Island, Agege, and Agbado-Okeodo. In the latter, a controversial figure facing murder charges was imposed as the APC candidate, drawing widespread condemnation.
Comrade Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, General Secretary of UAD, stressed that the crisis transcends partisan politics. “Members of these political parties have risen in protest,” he said, signaling growing dissatisfaction among ordinary citizens who feel excluded from decision-making processes.
Ajayi added, “We have come to tell Nigerians the state we are in. It dawns on us at United Action for Democracy to speak now because members of these political parties have risen in protest severally in other places and have come to the open with it.”
Broader Implications for Nigerian Democracy
The controversy comes amid ongoing debates about Local Government Autonomy—a landmark achievement following decades of advocacy by groups like the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). However, rather than empowering grassroots governance, recent events suggest that entrenched elites are undermining this progress.
Comrade Wale Balogun, a former UAD leader, drew parallels between current challenges and past struggles against military rule. “There is no internal democracy within parties,” he lamented, warning that undemocratic practices at the local level often foreshadow national crises.
Balogun stated, “The mass agitation currently happening in Lagos pertains to people rejecting the imposition of politicians on them from different local governments not related to their constituencies. If these illegalities become perfected, we can be rest assured that will be the state of other political parties come the July 12th local government election.”
Calls for Accountability
To restore faith in the electoral system, UAD has outlined specific demands:
- Immediate suspension and prosecution of LASIEC officials implicated in electoral fraud.
- Independent investigations led by credible bodies outside LASIEC and the APC.
- International sanctions targeting individuals undermining democratic principles.
Failure to act decisively, UAD warns, could normalize electoral theft ahead of the 2027 general elections. Such normalization would alienate citizens further, deepening apathy and disillusionment with democracy.
For Nigerians eager to see meaningful change, the unfolding saga in Lagos serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action. By shining a light on these abuses, stakeholders hope to galvanize support for comprehensive electoral reforms. As grassroots movements mobilize to resist anti-democratic forces, the question remains: Will Nigeria seize this moment to strengthen its institutions—or risk sliding deeper into chaos?
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