Monarchs Ask Egunjobi and Yusuf to Return to APC

Traditional rulers in Agege and Orile-Agege, Lagos State, have asked former Agege Local Government chairman Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf to rethink their switch from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and come back to the party.

They made this request during a peace meeting on Sunday. This meeting aimed to discuss worries about the political changes in the area as the 2027 elections approach.

The meeting came after Egunjobi and Yusuf left the APC for the Allied Peoples Movement, where they became candidates for the Lagos State House of Assembly from Agege Constituencies I and II.

Attendees included traditional rulers, members of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Muslim leaders, and representatives from the Arewa community.

Oba Ambaliu Agbeleyi, the Alaige of Orile-Agege, said the meeting was necessary due to fears of possible violence from the political situation. He has been the monarch for 14 years and said his focus is on the peace, stability, 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 stated.

Agbeleyi urged Egunjobi and Yusuf to reconsider their decisions and return to the APC. He wants them to keep the peace that existed during their time in office.

The Olu of Agege, Oba Oyedeji Kamila Ishiba, also called on 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, appealed to everyone to support the efforts of religious and community leaders in maintaining peace.

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

Alhaji Sulaiman, the Chief Imam of Dopemu, called on party leaders to help resolve the political issues and encourage their members to avoid actions that could lead to violence.

He warned that political positions are temporary and should not lead to loss of life. “I am for the community. I stand for peaceful coexistence in Agege constituency,” 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, the CAN Coordinator in Agege Local Government Area, said the religious community is mainly focused on peace and development in Agege. He urged political leaders to promote tolerance and avoid actions that could disrupt peace.

“We are not going to war. We are going to vote on 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, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s updated timetable. January 16, 2027, is for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

In response, Egunjobi, 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 APC leaders to act fairly and seek reconciliation.

Egunjobi claimed he won the party's primary election but that the APC chose another candidate later. He believed this situation should have led to a reconciliation process.

The APC previously stated that Egunjobi and Yusuf did not secure its tickets before getting 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.”

He mentioned that the APC leadership has not contacted him about reconciliation since the disputed primary. He expected party leaders to arrange a meeting to address the issues.

Egunjobi added that he and his supporters thought about going to court over the matter but were persuaded by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, not to take that step.

He stated, “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 said his decision to leave the APC was not new, recalling a similar case with APC Chairman Hon. Ojelabi back in 1999.

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. We were calm and law-abiding, but the party failed to do what was expected. We own our community, and nobody can dictate to us what to do.”

He added that he did not plan to run for the Lagos State House of Assembly initially but was convinced to do so later.

Egunjobi praised the organizer of the peace meeting and assured residents that the 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.