Tinubu-Ojo threatens protest over Lagos APC primaries

The Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has threatened a protest over the outcome of the All Progressives Congress primaries in Lagos State, alleging that the exercise was manipulated in favour of the party’s Justice Forum bloc.

 

Tinubu-Ojo spoke on Wednesday during the weekly meeting of market leaders and stakeholders at her office in Alausa, Ikeja.

 

She specifically challenged the results announced for Mushin Federal Constituency 2, Agege Constituency 2 and Ojokoro constituencies, insisting that some candidates who won were denied their mandates.

 

The Lagos APC had on Monday released the names of candidates who emerged from its House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

Reacting to the outcome, Tinubu-Ojo called on the party leadership at both state and national levels to investigate the disputed primaries before the results are formally ratified.

 

“We are ready to protest because of Seye Oladejo of Mushin Federal Constituency 02, Mutiu Olaide Oladeebo of Agege 2 constituency, Olotu Ojo of Ojokoro constituency, because we know they won this election. Their mandate should not be given to somebody else,” she said.

 

She warned that unresolved grievances from the primaries could worsen internal divisions within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

Tinubu-Ojo also accused party leaders of manipulating internal structures along factional lines between the Justice Forum and Mandate Group.

 

“We have to cry out now. Let APC cancel Justice and Mandate Forums. We are one family. We are for APC,” she said.

 

“Now, they are using Justice Forum and Mandate because our candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, belongs to the Justice Forum.”

 

According to her, many politicians were now defecting to the Justice Forum because of the belief that the next governor would emerge from the bloc.

 

“Everyone is now joining the Justice Forum because they believe that is where the incoming governor belongs. Are we not Lagosians? We are all APC,” she added.

 

Tinubu-Ojo said political leaders should carry every group along irrespective of factional affiliation.

 

“Even when he becomes governor, he will not govern only APC members; he has to balance it. Everyone must be carried along. If you are a leader, you are leading both your friends and foes,” she stated.

 

She also lamented what she described as growing frustration among party loyalists.

 

“It is saddening. It is a way of telling us that hard work does not pay in politics. Something must be done about it,” she said.

 

Tinubu-Ojo reaffirmed the support of market women for the governorship ambition of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and other APC candidates, while calling for greater political inclusion for traders in Lagos State.