Emmanuel Clement
Concerned stakeholders, party faithful, youth mobilizers, women leaders, and grassroots coordinators of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos State have called on the national leadership of the party to protect internal democracy and prevent the concentration of political influence within the state chapter ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made during a consultative stakeholders’ meeting convened to review the future of the party in Lagos State and deliberate on the principles that should guide leadership emergence and candidate selection for elective offices.
Participants at the meeting expressed concerns over what they described as the growing influence of Mrs. Dayo Ekong within the party structure, particularly in view of her position as National Vice Chairman.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the stakeholders urged the party’s national leadership to carefully manage the Lagos structure and avoid political arrangements capable of undermining party unity and members’ confidence.
They stressed that the Nigeria Democratic Congress must not allow any individual, regardless of office or political standing, to solely determine the political direction of the party in Lagos State without the collective mandate of members.
The stakeholders maintained that Lagos members should be allowed to freely determine who emerges as candidates for all contested offices through transparent, competitive, and member-driven processes.
They warned that any perceived attempt to centralize decision-making or influence candidate emergence through internal power structures could create disaffection among members and weaken the party’s electoral chances in the state.
“The future of NDC in Lagos must rest on collective ownership, transparent leadership, and genuine consultation. The party cannot afford arrangements that alienate members or create distrust within its ranks,” the communiqué stated.
The meeting further resolved that leadership positions within the party in Lagos should be occupied by individuals with proven commitment to accountability, inclusiveness, transparency, and consensus-building.
The stakeholders therefore appealed to the national leadership to ensure that no single political actor is entrusted with excessive control over the affairs of the party in Lagos State.
They concluded by reaffirming their commitment to building a credible and people-oriented political platform while urging the leadership of the party to uphold fairness, due process, and the democratic aspirations of members across Lagos State.