Lagos Stakeholders Urge NDC National Leadership to Safeguard Internal Democracy, Raise Concerns Over Mrs. Dayo Ekong’s Expanding Influence
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 exercise caution in the management of its Lagos structure, warning against any political developments capable of undermining internal democracy and party cohesion 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 across all elective offices. Participants at the meeting expressed serious reservations over what they described as the growing concentration of influence around Mrs. Dayo Ekong, particularly in view of her current position as National Vice Chairman.
The stakeholders urged the national leadership to remain mindful of concerns raised by party members regarding leadership styles and political precedents that, in their view, generated significant dissatisfaction during her previous political engagements in Lagos State.
According to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, members stressed that the Nigeria Democratic Congress must not allow any individual, regardless of position or influence, to determine the political direction of Lagos State without the clear mandate and consent of party members.
The stakeholders maintained that Lagos members must be allowed to freely determine who emerges as flagbearers across 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 trigger widespread disaffection among members and weaken the party’s electoral prospects 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 at every level of the party in Lagos should be occupied strictly by individuals with demonstrated commitment to transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and consensus-building.
Stakeholders therefore called on 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-driven political platform while urging the national leadership to protect the democratic aspirations of Lagos members by allowing fairness and due process to prevail.
