The Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has raised the prospect of a protest over the outcome of the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in Lagos State.
Details of the Contested Primaries
Speaking at the weekly gathering of market leaders and stakeholders in her Alausa, Ikeja office on Wednesday, Tinubu-Ojo pointed to the results released for Mushin Federal Constituency 2, Agege Constituency 2 and Ojokoro constituencies as problematic.
The Lagos APC published its list of successful candidates on Monday, showing 24 winners for the House of Representatives tickets and 40 for the Lagos State House of Assembly. The list was signed by APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi.
Tinubu-Ojo’s Demands and Warnings
Tinubu-Ojo urged party leaders at both state and national levels to investigate the disputed primaries before any final ratification. She warned that ignoring the complaints could deepen internal rifts within the ruling party.
“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 declared.
Allegations of Factional Manipulation
She alleged that internal party structures were being manipulated along factional lines between the Justice Forum and the Mandate Group. Tinubu-Ojo warned that such divisions could weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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.”
Criticism of the Mandate Group
Tinubu-Ojo criticised members of the Mandate Group who, she said, were defecting to the Justice Forum in search of perceived political advantage.
“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.”
Market Women’s Support and Demand for Recognition
Reaffirming the commitment of market women across Lagos, Tinubu-Ojo pledged continued support for the governorship ambition of Obafemi Hamzat and other APC candidates.
She stressed, however, that traders deserved greater recognition and political inclusion in return for their backing, noting that market women remain a critical constituency in Lagos politics and must not be sidelined in governance or political appointments.
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