APM Blames Lagos Flooding On Government Negligence 2026

APM Blames Govt Negligence For Lagos Flooding – Demands Action, Compensation for Victims

 'It Is No Longer a Natural Disaster' – APM Declares

The Lagos State chapter of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has launched a blistering attack on the Lagos State Government, blaming the recurring flooding across the metropolis on what it described as government negligence, poor urban planning, and inadequate drainage infrastructure.

In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Ayodele Kazeem, the opposition party expressed deep concern over the worsening flood situation, insisting that the persistent flooding could no longer be regarded solely as a natural disaster.

"It is unacceptable that with every rainfall, communities across the state are thrown into fear and uncertainty," the statement read.

The party traced the crisis to "years of poor urban planning, inadequate drainage systems, weak environmental enforcement, and the government's failure to act proactively despite repeated warnings from experts".

Affected Communities – From Alimosho to Epe

The APM listed several communities that have been severely affected by the flooding, including:

· Alimosho – roads impassable, homes submerged

· Ikorodu – businesses shut down, families displaced

· Agege – vehicles damaged, residents stranded

· Oshodi – commercial activities crippled

· Lekki – properties destroyed, power outages

· Epe – livelihoods lost

· Badagry – communities cut off

· Surulere – floodwaters inundating homes

The party lamented that "hardworking Lagosians have continued to count heavy losses to a disaster that has become an annual occurrence".

What APM Is Demanding – 5 Key Actions

The APM called on the Lagos State Government to move beyond issuing seasonal flood warnings and embark on visible and lasting interventions. The party demanded:

1. Comprehensive Drainage Clearing and Expansion

Drainage channels must be comprehensively cleared and expanded where necessary.

2. Speedy Completion of Ongoing Projects

Ongoing drainage and flood control projects must be completed without delay.

3. Strict Enforcement of Urban Planning Regulations

Proper urban planning regulations must be enforced to prevent further obstruction of waterways.

4. Immediate Relief for Victims

The government must provide emergency relief and financial support to families and business owners whose homes and properties have been damaged.

5. An Independent Investigation

The party also backed calls for an independent investigation into the flooding, especially regarding the Lagos Coastal Road project.

'Lagos Deserves a Government That Plans Ahead'

The APM did not mince words in holding the government accountable:

"The people of Lagos deserve a government that plans ahead rather than reacts after disasters have occurred. They deserve a government that prioritises prevention over sympathy visits and media statements after lives and properties have already been lost," the statement said.

While holding the government responsible for providing adequate infrastructure, the party also urged residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels and canals, stressing that "environmental sanitation requires collective responsibility".

However, the APM maintained that "citizens cannot be blamed for institutional failures" and that "the primary duty of providing functional infrastructure, effective drainage systems, and proper environmental management rests squarely with the government".

Doherty Joins the Chorus – Questions Lagos Coastal Road

Funso Doherty, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), also weighed in, linking the worsening flooding in some coastal communities to alleged failures in environmental governance surrounding the construction of the Lagos Coastal Road.

Doherty argued that blaming the flooding entirely on flash floods or poor waste disposal overlooked deeper structural issues.

He revealed that documents obtained from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in 2024 indicated that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not available to the bureau when it reviewed the contract for Section One of the Lagos Coastal Road project.

According to him, although about N400 million was included in the contract for an EIA, the project was allegedly awarded and commenced before such an assessment was properly carried out.

"It shows that the road contract was specified, designed, costed and awarded… without an EIA having first been properly done," Doherty said.

He called for an independent investigation into the flooding, remediation measures, and compensation for residents if it is established that non-compliance with environmental laws contributed to the disaster.

 Government's Response – 'Illegal Wetland Development Is Worsening Flooding'

Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, has blamed illegal developments on wetlands and floodplains for worsening flooding across Lagos.

He acknowledged that residents should not expect flooding to disappear entirely, saying the government's objective was to minimise its impact rather than promise an unrealistic solution.

Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared force majeure on the Oworonshoki 132/33kV and Lekki 330/132kV transmission substations following severe flooding, warning that the development could disrupt electricity supply to customers.

 The Bigger Picture – A Recurring Tragedy

The latest flooding comes nearly a year after the Lagos State Government apologised to residents and commuters over widespread flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in July 2025.

Yet, as the APM noted, "the annual cycle of flooding has become an unacceptable burden on Lagosians, many of whom continue to suffer devastating economic and social consequences".

The stakes are high. With weather experts forecasting more rainfall in the coming weeks, concerns are growing over the capacity of Africa's largest city to withstand the environmental and economic consequences of recurring floods.

 'The Time for Excuses Has Passed'

The APM has drawn a clear line in the sand: Lagos flooding is no longer a natural disaster – it is a governance failure.

The party's demands are concrete:

· Clear and expand drainage channels

· Complete ongoing flood control projects

· Enforce urban planning regulations

· Provide immediate relief to victims

· Conduct an independent investigation

"The time for excuses has passed. Lagos deserves better, and the people must no longer be subjected to avoidable suffering each time the rains come," the APM declared.

As the 2027 elections approach, the flooding crisis is likely to become a major political issue in Lagos – with the opposition positioning itself as the voice of the people against what it calls years of official neglect.

The question is: Will the government act before the next rainfall?

Nigeria opposition parties court 2027 election

The Role of Law Courts in Nigeria Opposition Parties' Way In and Way Out of the 2027 General Election

The Battlefield Has Shifted – From Ballot Box to Courtroom

As Nigeria barrels toward the January 16, 2027 presidential election, a quieter but more decisive contest is already unfolding far from campaign rallies and polling units. In packed courtrooms across Abuja, Lokoja, and Port Harcourt, legal battles are becoming the arenas where political fortunes are won, challenged, and sometimes obliterated.

For Nigeria's opposition parties – the ADC, APM, NDC, and others – the judiciary has become both a potential shield and a deadly sword. No fewer than seven of the 21 political parties recognised by INEC are currently entangled in active court cases. The question is no longer just about votes. It is about legal recognition, leadership legitimacy, and survival itself.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana put it starkly: "Through the manipulation of Nigerian courts and senior lawyers, you may have only one candidate contesting the presidential election in this country". This is the high-stakes reality facing the opposition as the 2027 election approaches.

 The Judicial Minefield – How Courts Are Reshaping Opposition Politics

The Deregistration Bombshell

In June 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja dropped a political earthquake. Justice Peter Lifu ordered INEC to deregister five opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The grounds? The parties allegedly failed to meet constitutional requirements – specifically, they had not won any elective seats or secured at least 25 per cent of votes in previous elections. The Attorney-General of the Federation threw his weight behind the suit, arguing that INEC has a constitutional obligation – not discretion – to deregister non-performing parties.

The implications are staggering. Atiku Abubakar, who recently emerged as the ADC's presidential candidate, and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, seeking re-election on the Accord platform, could both be automatically disqualified. The ADC's inclusion has drawn particular attention because of its growing visibility and role in opposition coalition discussions.

The NDC's 'Judicial Coup'

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) suffered a similar fate. A Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside an earlier order that compelled INEC to register the party, effectively withdrawing the legal foundation upon which its recognition was based.

NDC lawmakers condemned the ruling as a "judicial coup against democracy" and a "calculated pattern of judicial harassment". The PDP also weighed in, describing the order as "an asphyxiation of multiparty democracy" and an "economic crime against Nigerians who invested in the party".

Leadership Crises and Delayed Judgments

Even parties not facing deregistration are trapped in legal limbo. The ADC is currently caught in a leadership crisis before the Supreme Court, with a judgment reserved since April 22, 2026. The party has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, warning that "a delay of even a few days could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians".

Meanwhile, the PDP itself is embroiled in a leadership tussle between factions loyal to Senator David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with the Supreme Court yet to deliver a final ruling.

A Sword That Cuts Both Ways – When Courts Protect the Opposition

Relief from INEC's Deadlines

It is not all doom and gloom. In May 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment that opposition parties hailed as a "watershed moment". Justice Mohammed Umar nullified key portions of INEC's revised timetable, ruling that the electoral commission exceeded its powers by imposing restrictive deadlines on political parties for conducting primaries.

The ADC welcomed the ruling as "vindication of its earlier objections" and predicted it would trigger a "mass exodus from the APC" as politicians now have more time to switch platforms.

The Court of Appeal's Intervention

When the deregistration order against the five parties was issued, the Court of Appeal swiftly intervened, staying execution of the judgment and criticising the lower court for proceeding despite an existing appellate court order. This intervention has kept the affected parties alive – for now.

Barrister Olalekan Festus Ojo, a human rights lawyer, noted: "The Court of Appeal's swift intervention offers cautious reassurance that Nigeria's appellate courts retain both the will and the authority to correct such excesses".

The Opposition's Way Out – Navigating the Judicial Labyrinth

For the ADC, APM, NDC, and other opposition parties, the path through the courts requires a three-pronged strategy:

1. Pursue Every Legal Avenue

The NDC has already signalled it will "vigorously challenge this order within the ambit of the law". The PDP has urged the NDC to pursue all available legal options, and the affected parties have filed appeals against the deregistration order.

The lesson: Court battles are not over until the Supreme Court speaks. Opposition parties must be prepared to litigate at every level.

2. Unite or Perish Separately

As Paul Ibe, media aide to Atiku Abubakar, urged after the NDC ruling: "NDC court setback should unite opposition". The fragmentation that has historically weakened the opposition is now being exploited through judicial means. A united front – with a single candidate and coordinated legal strategy – is more urgent than ever.

3. Demand Judicial Independence

Civil society organisations have already begun pressuring the judiciary. The Coalition of Nigerian Civil Society Organisations (CNCSO) staged a protest outside the Federal High Court, urging the judiciary to "sustain independence" and "protect opposition parties". The coalition warned that "without a strong opposition, no democracy can survive".

The 2027 Question – Can Democracy Survive the Courtroom?

The judiciary was once described as "the last hope of the common man". Today, many Nigerians fear it has become a weapon in the hands of the powerful. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judicial officers against actions capable of undermining the courts' integrity and urged strict adherence to constitutional timelines.

But the warning may not be enough. As Gani Adams cautioned: "We are moving towards a one-party system. Those in power are using the judiciary to suppress the will of the people".

The stakes could not be higher. If the courts continue to deregister opposition parties, delay leadership judgments, and disqualify candidates through procedural technicalities, Nigeria risks heading into 2027 with a sham election – one where the outcome is determined not by voters, but by judges.

The Courts Are the Battlefield. The Opposition Must Fight.

The role of the judiciary in Nigeria's 2027 election is not a sideshow – it is the main event. For the ADC, APM, and NDC, the courts are both the greatest threat and the last line of defence.

The path forward is clear:

· Litigate aggressively – every judgment must be appealed; every delay must be challenged.

· Unify immediately – a divided opposition is a defeated opposition, especially in court.

· Demand transparency – civil society, the media, and the public must hold the judiciary accountable.

As the CNCSO declared: "The judiciary must stand with the Nigerian people. That is the essence of judicial independence".

The 2027 election will be won or lost not just at polling units, but in courtrooms across Nigeria. The opposition parties ignore this reality at their own peril.

The clock is ticking. The judges are watching. Will the opposition fight – or fade away?