Lagos Democratic Movement (LDM), a coalition of civil activists and political actors in Lagos state has expressed deep concern over the “reenactment of the culture of imposition by the leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos state well ahead of the primaries for the selection of candidates for 2015 general elections.” The group in a statement signed by Olanrewaju Suraju, Debo Adeniran and ’Lanre Adeleke said: “It is instructive that the crises arising from the congresses of the APC in Lagos state is already generating unpleasant ripples amongst stakeholders within the party. LDM deplores what appears to be the reemergence of undemocratic practices by a new coalition that has been widely celebrated as movement for change within the crisis-ridden political system in Nigeria. LDM wishes to assert that the inability of the APC to hold transparent congresses is rather unsettling and unbecoming for a party that is largely perceived as harbinger of change in Nigeria.

“It is therefore a matter of serious concern to patriotic civil society activists and political actors under the aegis of LDM that the widespread protests and misgivings over alleged imposition of candidates at the inaugural congresses of the APC in Lagos portend grave perils for the image and fortune of a party like the APC ahead of 2015 general elections.

“More worrisome is that while the crises trailing the congresses of the APC were yet to be resolved, another ugly signal of possible imposition emerged following an open endorsement of one of the aspirants for governorship ticket of APC by Oba of Lagos; His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu. The open endorsement by the Lagos paramount traditional ruler is believed to have been orchestrated and carries the toga and caveat of a tribe of enforcers that preside over the emasculation of internal democracy within political parties in Nigeria. As expected, this singular action, seen by many as pointer to imposition, has generated negative reactions which yet again cast serious aspersions on effort at deepening democracy through internalisation of transparent, accountable, free and fair processes known to democratic practices and norms.”

Continuing, LDM said in the statement made available to News Express last night: “While it is conceded that a political party reserves the right to run its affairs without inhibitions, LDM wishes to categorically asserts that giving the ugly political experiences of the past 15 years of democratic experiments which have impacted adversely on governance and leadership accountability, Nigerians could no longer accept the deception of sacrificing the tenets of internal democracy within our political parties on the platter of convenient argument that reduces democratic requirement to mere family affairs.

“It is the conviction of LDM that the APC being the dominant and ruling party in Lagos state ought to be alive to the obligations and responsibilities of investing governance with strong foundation of democratic values. We insist that the APC, particularly in Lagos State could no longer pretend that the whole world is not interested in the way its leaders manage the affairs of a popular movement that is acclaimed to be the main opposition platform with great potentials of serving as alternative to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We therefore call on all registered members of the APC in Lagos state to be committed to engaging the process of candidates’ selection with eternal vigilance and democratic assiduity. “We implore the leaders of the APC in Lagos State to accede to popular wishes of the members of the party by making democratic process the major priority over and above all considerations so that emerging government in 2015 would derive the needed capacity and support across the party membership and from the mass of the people.”

•Photo shows Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, one of those involved in attempts to impose a governorship candidate on Lagos APC.

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