George Ashiru’s Failure Of Leadership: How The ADC Lagos State Chairman Undermined Party Unity And Democracy
By
Comrade Igwe Prosper Ikechukwu
The role of a State Chairman is to serve as a unifying force, a custodian of party values, and a guardian of fairness and internal democracy. Unfortunately, the conduct of ADC Lagos State Chairman, George Ashiru, before, during, and after the party primaries has raised serious concerns about his commitment to these fundamental responsibilities.
It is both disappointing and unacceptable to witness a state party leader promoting division, exclusion, and favoritism among aspirants within the very party he was elected to lead. Such actions suggest a leadership style that prioritizes personal interests over party unity and collective progress. Rather than serving as an impartial referee, George Ashiru’s conduct has created widespread perceptions of bias, distrust, and disunity across the party structure.
The ADC coalition was formed with a clear objective: to unite progressive forces across political divides and provide Nigerians with a credible alternative capable of rescuing the nation from the failures of the ruling establishment. However, from the inception of the coalition, there have been growing concerns that George Ashiru failed to embrace this vision of inclusiveness and equal participation.
Across several local government areas in Lagos State, including Eti-Osa, Ojo, Kosofe, and others, party members reportedly witnessed actions and decisions that appeared inconsistent with the spirit of fairness and internal democracy. Many stakeholders have expressed concerns regarding alleged anti-party activities carried out directly or indirectly through individuals perceived to be acting on behalf of the State Chairman.
One of the most troubling incidents occurred during the stakeholders’ meeting convened to finalize arrangements for the primary election process. The meeting, scheduled for noon and expected to be jointly coordinated by outgoing and incoming local government executives, was marred by controversy.
The outgoing chairman was absent and delegated representation to Mr. Daisi Asahfa. During the proceedings, Mr. Asahfa, alongside Mr. Razeez Razaki and Mr. Odowu, reportedly insisted that the incoming chairman, Mr. Ugochukwu, be excluded from participation. Despite assurances that the outgoing chairman would eventually attend, the meeting concluded without his presence. Many stakeholders believe these developments reflected a broader pattern of interference allegedly linked to the State Chairman’s office.
As the primary election approached, concerns intensified when the venue for the election was withheld from aspirants in the person of Hon. Chuks Ameh. The official location was reportedly not disclosed until approximately 8:30 a.m. on the day of the election. Even more concerning was the decision to situate the venue within the ward of one of the contestants, Mr. Razeez Adegoke Razaki, a development that naturally generated concerns regarding neutrality and fairness.
Hon. Chuks Ameh brought these concerns directly to George Ashiru’s attention. Rather than addressing the issue, the State Chairman maintained that the outgoing chairman possessed exclusive authority to determine the venue, a position many stakeholders argued was inconsistent with the provisions and spirit of the ADC Constitution.
Beyond venue controversies, there were also significant concerns regarding constitutional compliance. The ADC Constitution provides clear procedures for conducting primary elections where consensus cannot be genuinely achieved. In such situations, ward-based primaries are required to guarantee fairness, transparency, credibility, and equal participation for all contestants.
Unfortunately, these constitutional provisions were not followed.
Furthermore, available video evidence shows Mr. Oladimeji Fabiyi announcing results on behalf of the opposing faction. According to the video footage, the evidence directly contradicts subsequent claims that a legitimate consensus agreement had been reached among aspirants and stakeholders. Instead, the video appears to support concerns that efforts were made to impose predetermined outcomes rather than facilitate a transparent democratic process.
The central issue remains clear: there was no universally accepted consensus. What many stakeholders witnessed instead was an attempt to manipulate procedures, exclude key participants, and favor certain interests at the expense of party democracy of which they did.
Such actions, if left unaddressed, pose a serious threat to the credibility, integrity, and future of the ADC in Lagos State. A political party cannot successfully challenge national failures while tolerating internal practices that undermine transparency, fairness, and democratic participation.
The Eti-Osa Federal House of Representatives primary has become a symbol of broader concerns regarding exclusion, manipulation, lack of transparency, and disregard for constitutional procedures. These events occurred under the watch of the Lagos State Chairman, George Ashiru, making questions of accountability unavoidable.
Leadership is measured not by power, but by fairness. It is measured not by control, but by the ability to unite people behind a common purpose. The events surrounding these primaries have left many party members believing George Ashiru failed in fulfilling the fundamental duties of his office.
For ADC to remain a credible platform for change, party leaders at all levels must be held accountable, internal democracy must be protected, and the principles of fairness and inclusiveness must prevail over personal interests. Anything less risks betraying the very ideals upon which the coalition was founded.
POLITICAL ANALYST, COMRADE IGWE PROSPER IKECHUKWU WRITES FROM LAGOS
