Lagos APC Primaries Ends in Protest, Afikuyomi Escapes Being Stripped

Lagos APC Primaries Ends in Protest, Afikuyomi Escapes Being Stripped

Local council primaries of the Lagos state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held on Saturday, ended in chaos as participants protested the final results.

Protest at the Lagos APC primaries began with varying forms of expressions of dissatisfaction with the names of candidates endorsed by the party leadership to contest for the chairmanship position in 18 local government councils.

It subsequently took a violent turn and the protesters pounced on a former commissioner for tourism in the state, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, who was the chairman of the electoral committee.

Afikuyomi was physically attacked and was nearly stripped naked before policemen rescued and led him to safety.

The protesters thereafter destroyed the ballot boxes as most of delegates scampered to safety, seeking refuge from the missiles of stones and chairs.

According to The Nation, security operatives deployed to the scene cleared the premises and took strategic positions to forestall a further breakdown of law and order while also guarding other party leaders to the safety of their vehicles.

The disappointing end to the Lagos APC primaries may signal turbulence for the party ahead of major political events leading up to the next general elections as the Lagos APC is generally deemed the strongest base of the ruling party.