Missed flights, empty transport stands and complaints of delayed funding have thrown Lagos APC into fresh turmoil on the eve of the party’s national convention.
LAGOS, Nigeria — APC delegates were left stranded at airports and motor parks on Friday. Allegations arose that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu did not release mobilisation funds for the party’s national convention in Abuja. This situation triggered a wave of embarrassment for the ruling party’s Lagos structure.
What should have been a show of strength ahead of the APC’s crucial national gathering has instead exposed ugly cracks in the state’s political machinery. Several delegates reportedly missed flights or were caught out by last-minute arrangements. They were unable to travel due to soaring airfare prices.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. Party faithful were stranded around the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. They were also at major motor parks across Lagos. They struggled to secure transport to the Federal Capital Territory.
The convention is billed for Eagle Square, Abuja. It is expected to produce new members of the APC National Executive Committee. It will shape the next phase of internal power struggles in the ruling party ahead of 2027.
But in Lagos, the talk is no longer about strategy. It is about frustration, neglect and a mobilisation process many insiders now describe as badly handled.
A party source spoke anonymously. He blamed the situation on what he called a failure by the state leadership to move on time. He insisted that the responsibility for mobilisation traditionally sits with the governor-led structure.
The allegation has placed Sanwo-Olu under pressure. This is particularly significant because the Lagos governor is seen as a central figure in the APC’s political machinery.
The comparison with the 2022 convention cycle has only deepened the controversy. At the time, Sanwo-Olu was widely credited with driving extensive mobilisation across Lagos. Observers saw this as part of a broader effort to consolidate his political base.
This time, however, the reported confusion has raised questions. Has the governor’s grip on the state party structure weakened? Or did internal coordination simply collapse at the final hurdle?
The optics are damaging. Lagos delegates were reportedly stranded. Meanwhile, other states, including Kano, Rivers, and Imo, were sending large contingents to Abuja in an organised manner.
That contrast has fuelled an impression. Lagos, one of the APC’s most important power blocs, may have stumbled at the worst possible moment.
Adding another layer to the political drama is the growing influence of independent financiers and power brokers at the convention.
Businessman Obinna Iyiegbu is better known as Obi Cubana. He was reportedly seen at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. He was assisting with logistics. Groups aligned with former Rivers governor Nyesom Wike were also said to be mobilising support around the event.
The APC has continued to insist that the convention will hold successfully and that its internal unity remains intact. Loyalists are counting on President Bola Tinubu’s enduring influence. They believe he can hold the party together and steady nerves as the leadership race intensifies.
Still, the Lagos embarrassment is already causing ripples far beyond the airport terminals and motor parks. The ruling party prides itself on political discipline. The spectacle of delegates stranded because of alleged mobilisation failure is a public relations disaster. This could linger long after the convention curtains fall.
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