Local council chairmanship aspirants under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State have petitioned Bola Tinubu over the alleged failure to refund their nomination and expression of interest fees following the party’s controversial 2025 local government primaries.
The aggrieved aspirants claim that while refunds have reportedly been made to some councillorship hopefuls and a few chairmanship contenders, more than 300 chairmanship aspirants are yet to receive payment.
Dismissing reports that all affected members had been refunded, the group described the situation as a looming internal crisis capable of destabilising the party at the grassroots.
According to the petitioners, the Lagos APC chapter is facing “one of the gravest self-inflicted crises in its political history,” accusing the state leadership of ignoring a directive allegedly issued by President Tinubu to refund all aspirants who participated in what they termed a disputed primary process.
The election, they said, has become one of the most contentious exercises in the state’s political history, with many members describing the process as opaque, exclusionary and predetermined.
Despite their grievances, the aspirants noted that they accepted the President’s intervention in the interest of party unity and national stability.
They said Tinubu had directed that all aspirants be refunded to restore confidence and internal cohesion.
However, they accused the Lagos APC leadership, led by Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, of refusing to comply with the directive — a move they described as “open defiance.”
“To disregard such a directive is not merely administrative arrogance; it is an act of political insubordination with far-reaching consequences,” the group stated.
The aspirants warned that continued delay in refunding the fees has already triggered anger and resentment across wards and local governments, particularly among grassroots mobilisers whom they described as the backbone of the party’s electoral strength.
They cautioned that failure to address the issue could result in voter apathy, internal sabotage and protest votes in future elections.
History has shown repeatedly that political parties do not collapse from external opposition but from internal injustice,” the petition read. “What is happening in Lagos today is a textbook example of how unchecked impunity at the state level can undermine national leadership and weaken party unity.”
The group called on party elders and stakeholders to urgently intervene and compel the state executive committee to comply with the President’s directive.
“This is not merely about money,” they stressed. “It is about justice, credibility, party discipline and the moral authority of leadership. Failure to resolve this matter promptly will cast a long and damaging shadow over upcoming elections in Lagos State and beyond.”