“We Came to Vote, Not for Rubber Stamp Politics!” — Angry APC members erupted in protest at Ward 10, Iyana Offa, during the APC House of Representatives primary election in the Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency, after party officials allegedly replaced proper voting with a controversial “Yes or No” affirmation process.
What was expected to be a democratic primary quickly turned into a chaotic confrontation as aggrieved party faithful openly challenged officials, demanding transparency, credibility, and actual vote counting.
The protesters insisted they did not leave their homes to participate in what many described as a “scripted endorsement parade,” but came prepared for a legitimate election where votes would be cast, counted, and publicly announced.
Tension escalated at the venue as angry voices repeatedly echoed:
“We came to vote, not for affirmation!”
Several members confronted party leaders and demanded that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclose the exact figures allegedly recorded for each aspirant. According to the protesters, no official vote count was announced throughout the exercise, leaving many questioning the legitimacy of the entire process.
For many observers, the situation exposed a deeper crisis within the ruling party’s internal democracy. Critics at the venue accused some APC leaders of abandoning due process and turning party primaries into mere political formalities where outcomes are allegedly predetermined before members even arrive.
Some party members openly alleged that the controversial affirmation method was deliberately designed to favour a particular aspirant, while others questioned the identity and legitimacy of certain individuals allowed to participate in the exercise.
The atmosphere became increasingly heated as arguments broke out between loyalists of different camps, forcing security personnel to intervene repeatedly to prevent the situation from degenerating further.
Despite the tension, the process continued under heavy security presence.
What shocked many party faithful most was not just the disagreement itself, but the growing belief among grassroots members that their voices no longer matter in decisions that directly affect the future of the constituency.
For critics, the “Yes or No” method has become a symbol of what they describe as the slow burial of internal democracy in Nigerian politics — where affirmation is allegedly replacing competition, and endorsement is replacing elections.
Reports indicate that similar complaints over the same controversial affirmation process also surfaced in other wards across the Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency, further fueling accusations that the exercise lacked transparency from the start.
Political observers now warn that if urgent action is not taken to restore confidence in party primaries, internal crises and voter apathy could deepen ahead of the general elections.
Because when party members begin protesting against their own party’s electoral process, the bigger question becomes unavoidable:
Is democracy still alive inside the APC — or are members simply being gathered for political validation ceremonies disguised as elections?
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