Obasa Denies Funding APC Primary Protests, Dismisses N2bn Claim

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has denied allegations linking him to protests that erupted following the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections in Lagos State.

Obasa also dismissed claims circulating on social media that he allocated N2 billion to sponsor protesters challenging the outcome of the party’s primaries.

The Speaker made the clarification on Tuesday amid growing tensions within the Lagos chapter of the APC over the conduct and outcome of the primary elections.

Party members from several local government areas, including Badagry, Mushin, Amuwo-Odofin, Eti-Osa, Somolu, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Oshodi-Isolo, staged protests at the party’s secretariat on ACME Road in Ikeja.

The protesters accused party leaders of manipulating the primary election results and demanded greater transparency in the selection process.

The demonstration was the latest in a series of protests that have followed the release of a list of candidates said to have emerged victorious in the APC primaries across the state.

Following the protests, messages circulated widely on WhatsApp and other social media platforms alleging that Obasa had financed the demonstrations with a sum of N2 billion.

Reacting to the allegation, the Speaker described the claims as false, malicious and without any factual basis.

“It is foolhardy, malicious, misleading and baseless for anybody to assume or imply that I will import or mobilise protesters from different local governments to the secretariat,” Obasa said.

Questioning the rationale behind the allegation, he noted that he was not a candidate in the disputed primary elections and therefore had no reason to sponsor any protest.

“To achieve what exactly? I am not a candidate in the disputed election, so why and how will I devote such an amount of money to organising protests?” he asked.

Obasa stressed that he remained committed to the unity and stability of the APC in Lagos State and rejected any attempt to portray him as a divisive figure within the party.

“I am a peace-loving party man, and I abhor the use of my name and office for any form of illegality or to sow division within the party,” he said.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the peace, unity and progress of the APC and the people of Lagos State.