The Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, on Wednesday threatened a protest over the outcome of the recently held All Progressives Congress primaries in Lagos State, alleging that the process was skewed in favour of the party’s Justice Forum bloc.
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Tinubu-Ojo, who spoke during the weekly meeting of market leaders and stakeholders at her office in Alausa, Ikeja, particularly claimed that the results published by the Lagos APC for Mushin Federal Constituency 2, Agege Constituency 2 and Ojokoro constituencies were skewed.
Tinubu-Ojo, who spoke during the weekly meeting of market leaders and stakeholders at her office in Alausa, Ikeja, particularly claimed that the results published by the Lagos APC for Mushin Federal Constituency 2, Agege Constituency 2 and Ojokoro constituencies were skewed.
The Lagos State chapter of the APC had on Monday released the list of candidates who emerged from its House of Representatives and state House of Assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The list, signed by the Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, showed that 24 candidates emerged for the House of Representatives tickets, while 40 candidates secured the party’s tickets for the Lagos State House of Assembly.
For the Lagos State House of Assembly, candidates such as Mojisola Meranda (Apapa I), Musibau Lawal (Apapa II), Barakat Bakare-Odunuga (Surulere I), Damilola Ayinde-Marshal (Surulere II), and others emerged victorious across the 40 constituencies.
Tinubu-Ojo urged APC leaders at both state and national levels to urgently investigate the disputed primaries before final ratification of the results, warning that failure to act could deepen internal tensions within the ruling party.
She specifically cited alleged victories of some candidates, including Seye Oladejo in Mushin Constituency 2, Mutiu Olaide Oladeebo in Agege 2, and Olotu Ojo in Ojokoro, insisting their mandates should not be altered.
“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.
Tinubu-Ojo warned that unresolved grievances arising from the primaries could destabilise internal cohesion within the party ahead of the next general election cycle, urging swift intervention by party leadership to restore confidence among stakeholders.
She alleged that internal party structures were being manipulated along factional lines, particularly between the Justice Forum and Mandate Group, warning that such divisions could undermine unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
She said, “We have to cry out now. Let APC cancel Justice and Mandate Forums. We are one family. We are for APC. Now, they are using Justice Forum and Mandate because our candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, belongs to the Justice Forum.
“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.
“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.
“I can’t understand members of Mandate Group dumping the group and joining Justice Forum. And if Mandate won the election, they would try to manipulate and put Justice Forum members there. 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 reaffirmed the commitment of market women across Lagos to support the governorship ambition of Obafemi Hamzat and other APC candidates, while insisting that traders deserved greater recognition and political inclusion in return for their support.
According to her, traders remain a critical constituency in Lagos politics and must not be sidelined in governance and political appointments.
