Crisis within the Lagos chapter of the APC intensified on Wednesday after the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, called for the dissolution of the influential Justice Forum and Mandate Movement groups over alleged irregularities in the party’s primaries.
Tinubu-Ojo, who is the daughter of President Bola Tinubu, criticised the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries in Mushin Constituency I, Agege Constituency II, and Ojokoro, alleging that the victories of some aspirants were manipulated in favour of “a non-winner.”
She made the remarks during the weekly gathering of market leaders and stakeholders held at the Iyaloja-General’s office in Alausa, Ikeja, where she condemned what she described as political manipulation and attempts to override the wishes of party members.
She also lamented the alleged neglect of traders by political office holders despite the role market women and traders played in the success and growth of the APC in Lagos State.
Tinubu-Ojo specifically mentioned the cases of Mutiu Olaide Oladeebo in Agege Constituency II, Seye Oladejo in Mushin Federal Constituency, and Olotu Emmanuel Ojo in Ojokoro, insisting they genuinely won their respective primaries before alleged attempts were made to alter the results.
She said: “We have to cry out now, Let the APC cancel Justice and Mandate Forums because our governroship candidate belongs to the Justice Forum. Everybody is now joking the Justice Forum because that is where our incoming governor’s belongs to. Are we not Lagosians?
“When he becomes the governor, he will not be the governor for APC alone, he has to balance it. Even when you are the governor, you have to lead both your friends and foes. It is saddening that when a Mandate Forum aspirant wins, he jumps to Justice Forum, it is saddening. It is a way of telling us that hard work doesn’t pay in politics.
“Something must be done on that because it is important. We are sure that Seye Oladejo won in Mushin Federal Constituency and Olotu Emmanuel Ojo in Ojokoro won in Ojoroko with a landslide.
“Infact, we decided to calm down and see what they they will do about it because we are ready to protest. We know they won the election and their mandate should not be given to somebody else.”
She appealed to APC leaders at both the state and national levels to investigate the disputed primaries and ensure fairness before the final ratification of the results.
Tinubu-Ojo warned that ignoring the grievances could further deepen internal divisions within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
She also reiterated that market women in Lagos remained committed to supporting the governorship ambition of Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and other APC candidates across the country, while stressing that traders deserved political recognition and appointments in return for their loyalty and sacrifices.
In addition, she appealed to President Bola Tinubu to recognise traders as important stakeholders in national development.
Meanwhile, some aggrieved APC supporters and members in Mushin threatened to stage mass protests if the alleged mandate of Seye Oladejo was not restored.
The protesters accused leaders within the Justice Forum bloc of attempting to impose candidates and undermine internal democracy in the party.
“We know who won the election and the mandate should not be stolen. We are ready to protest if justice is not done,” one of the protesters said.
