The revolutionary leaders convened the assembly at a friar estate in Tejeros, originally with the intent of discussing the defense of Cavite against Spanish forces, as Governor General Camilo de Polavieja had regained much of the province.

This election sought to resolve the governance issues within the Katipunan and the broader revolutionary effort, which were fueling tensions between the Magdalo and Magdiwang factions in Cavite.

It also aimed to bypass the existing Supreme Council of the Katipunan, led by Andrés Bonifacio, the "Supremo" (or Pangulo), who had been invited to Cavite months earlier to mediate the conflict and had sided with the Magdiwang.

Amid the discussions, Severino de las Alas raised questions about the nature of the Katipunan, wondering if it resembled a democracy or a monarchy, given its lack of formal government structure.

The assembly became contentious as debates continued throughout the day, culminating in a disruption when the Magdalo side disparaged the revolutionary efforts, likening them to those of bandits or wild animals.

Jacinto Lumbreras, the Magdiwang chairman, who had been presiding over the assembly, then stepped down, suggesting that Bonifacio, as the "father of the Katipunan and the Revolution," should take over the chairmanship if they were to discuss replacing the existing government.

Then Baldomero Aguinaldo, cousin of Emilio and president of Magdalo, suggested that people stand in groups to make the voting faster so they could finish before it got too dark.

[4] Bonifacio then invoked his role as the chairman of the assembly and the supreme president of the Katipunan and declared all proceedings that day to be null and void, and left with his supporters.

Leaving Crispulo in command, Aguinaldo traveled to Santa Cruz de Malabon (now Tanza, Cavite), where he and the others elected, with the exception of Bonifacio, took their oath of office.

[8] Aguinaldo surreptitiously took his oath of office as president in a chapel officiated by a Catholic priest, Cenon Villafranca, who was under the authority of the Roman pope.

[2] Artemio Ricarte also took his office "with great reluctance" and made a declaration that "dirty or shady" practices in the Tejeros elections had "not been in conformity with the true will of the people.

[11] They then proceeded to Naik and drew up another document on April 19, sometimes referred to as the Naic Military Agreement, repudiating the insurgent government established at Tejeros.

In the resulting exchange of gunfire and scuffles, despite Bonifacio ordering his men not to fight and not putting up resistance himself, he was wounded and his other sibling, Ciriaco, was killed.