2027: Lagos APC rejects demands for coercion of candidates

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos has rejected claims of plans to field candidates in next year’s general elections in the state.

Chairman of the APC in the state, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, provided the clarification in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos.

Ojelabi said the report, attributed to a faceless group, was created to create tension within the party.

He said: “APC Lagos strongly condemns and rejects the malicious publication alleging there is a plot to topple the candidate ahead of the elections.

“The report, based on claims from a faceless group, is a desperate fabrication and a calculated attempt to inflame passions within our party.

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“We state clearly there is no plot, no secret meeting, and no predetermined list of candidates.

“These claims are baseless and designed to create a false impression of a crisis that does not exist.”

Ojelabi said some individuals, unable to pursue their ambitions through legitimate structures, resorted to propaganda and anonymous publications.

“It is unfortunate that certain elements use propaganda, blackmail and anonymous media sensationalism to achieve their ambitions.

“Such actions will not intimidate the party leadership or derail its democratic process,” he added.

He said the party had alerted security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and stakeholders about the activities of political mischief makers.

“These actors seek to create distrust and provoke political unease through premeditated lies.

“Their actions are aimed at undermining confidence in the party’s transparent processes,” the APC chairman said.