Agege Monarchs Ask Former LG Chair to Return to APC

Traditional rulers in Agege and Orile-Agege, Lagos State, are asking former Agege Local Government chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi, and Azeez Yusuf to think about coming back to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They made this request during a peace meeting held on Sunday. The meeting focused on the political situation in the area ahead of the 2027 elections.

Egunjobi and Yusuf recently left the APC for the Allied Peoples Movement. They are now candidates for the Lagos State House of Assembly seats in Agege Constituencies I and II.

The meeting included traditional rulers, Christian Association of Nigeria members, Muslim clerics, and representatives from the Arewa community.

The Alaige of Orile-Agege, Oba Ambaliu Agbeleyi, said the meeting was necessary because of possible violence linked to the political situation.

Agbeleyi, who has been king for 14 years, stressed that his main goal is the peace and development of the community. "We want peace and progress in our community. When I heard that there will be bloodshed in the coming election, I cannot fold my arms and watch without doing anything," he said.

He urged Egunjobi and Yusuf to rethink their decisions and return to the APC to maintain peace, which was present during their time in office.

The Olu of Agege, Oba Oyedeji Kamila Ishiba, also called on the politicians and their supporters to avoid conflict. "We don’t want fight or rancour in our communities. Promotion is of God. We don’t pray for commotion in our communities. We want you to work on achieving peace and stability," he said.

High Chief Shuaib Ajayi, the Baale of Dopemu, asked everyone to support the peace efforts of community and religious leaders.

Apostle J.B. Olubode, Chairman of CAN in Orile-Agege, said religious leaders will keep praying for peace and progress in the APC and the community.

The Chief Imam of Dopemu, Alhaji Sulaiman, urged party leaders to step in and help resolve the political disagreement. He asked them to guide their members to avoid actions that could lead to violence.

"I am for the community. I stand for peaceful coexistence in Agege constituency," he said. He added, "I appeal to party leaders. They are at the centre of this. They have the strength to call to order their members."

Pastor Bayo Jesuniyi, CAN Coordinator in Agege, said the religious community cares about peace and development in Agege. He urged political leaders to embrace tolerance and avoid actions that could disrupt peace.

"We are not going to war. We are going to vote come January 16 to further the development. Let us align with the wishes of our leaders and avoid conflict," Jesuniyi said.

The State House of Assembly election is set for February 6, 2027. The presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on January 16, 2027.

Egunjobi, who is now the APM House of Assembly candidate, said he did not know about the meeting until a cleric invited him. He described this time as politically sensitive and urged the APC leadership to act fairly and seek reconciliation.

He claimed he won the party’s primary election but that the party chose another candidate later. He argued that there should have been a reconciliation process after that.

The APC had said Egunjobi and Yusuf did not secure its tickets before they took nominations from the APM. The Lagos State chapter later announced their expulsion from the APC for alleged disloyalty and anti-party activities.

Egunjobi said, "When you know that a candidate would be selected, you won’t tell us to go to the field. If I am relieved of my winning, the party should deem it fit to invite us to a meeting."

According to him, the APC leadership has not contacted him for reconciliation since the disputed primary. He expected party leaders to hold a meeting with the different groups involved.

Egunjobi said he and his supporters thought about going to court but were persuaded by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, not to do so.

He said, "Before the issue degenerated into this, the leadership of the party in the state led by Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi did not deem it fit to intervene by inviting us to a reconciliatory meeting. They didn’t reach out to us. Not even Mr. Speaker. Let us fear God."

Egunjobi also mentioned that leaving the APC was not a new thing. He recalled that APC Chairman, Hon. Ojelabi, left the AD for the PDP in 1999 when he was not returned as chairman of Ojo Local Government Area.

He said, "In 1999, when he wasn’t returned, he left the AD for the PDP. Then President Bola Tinubu was governor of Lagos State."

Egunjobi added that he had not planned to contest for the Lagos State House of Assembly but was convinced to do so.

Despite everything, he praised the convener of the peace meeting and assured people that political disagreements would not lead to violence.

"I commend the convener of this peace meeting. The convener wants peace and progress of the community. By the grace of God, there won’t be war in the community. I can only speak for myself; I assure you there won’t be war," he said.