By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Concerned leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege Federal Constituency have petitioned the Lagos State Chairman of the party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi over the defection of two former House of Assembly aspirants in the Federal Constituency: immediate past Chairman of Agege Local Government, Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf popularly called Ninalowo to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The petition dated Sunday, 20 September, 2026, was addressed to the state Chairman at the APC secretariat in Lagos by stakeholders operating from 103 Orile Road, Orile Agege.
In the letter, the concerned leaders reported that Hon. Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi and Mr. Azeez Yusuf, who contested the last primaries for Agege State Constituencies 01 and 02, have defected to the APM and emerged as candidates of the party.
The group said the development has implications for stability, unity and electoral planning ahead of the 2027 general elections if urgent action is not taken.
According to the petition, the movement may extend beyond the two defectors to include elements of APC structures linked to them, including executives and stakeholders at local government and ward levels.
The stakeholders recalled three previous correspondences on the matter including a letter dated February 19, 2026, by concerned APC Agege stakeholders, another dated May 18, 2026, on alleged marginalisation of Justice Forum members and disregard for party-approved appointments in Agege and Orile-Agege, and a petition on alleged disregard of party directives in the screening and swearing-in of nominated supervisors.
Furthermore, the letter expressed worry over reports that some serving councillors, supervisors, Secretaries to Local Government, Local Government Chairmen and other political appointees at state level are involved in activities associated with the APM structure.
The petitioners warned that the situation could create divided loyalty and confusion, with APC structures controlled by persons now contesting under another platform, thereby weakening coordination and mobilisation.
The group also alleged possible diversion and misuse of party and local government resources to support candidates of another party, noting that structures at ward and LGA levels were being deployed except for resistance from loyal members.
The stakeholders cited the recent controversy over appointment and screening of supervisors in Agege and Orile-Agege as evidence of the need to uphold party directives and constituted authority.
The letter further recalled a petition dated July 31, 2026, by Concerned Agege Leaders, alleging that some members duly appointed by the governor and party leaders as supervisors were denied their positions while others were sworn in by the chairmen of Agege LG and Orile-Agege LCDA.
The forum argued that retaining unresolved party structures whose principal actors have shifted loyalty to the APM could hamper grassroots mobilisation, communication and election coordination.
The petition added that the development could discourage loyal members and weaken discipline, thereby encouraging further fragmentation beyond Agege Federal Constituency.
Consequently, the concerned leaders urged the state leadership and appropriate organs of the party to conduct an urgent, impartial and comprehensive review of affected structures across Agege with a view to taking disciplinary action.
The group also called for corrective measures in the interest of the party, its State Assembly candidates, loyal members and supporters.
The stakeholders appealed to the leadership to treat the matter with urgency, stressing that the objective is not to create division or target individuals, but to protect unity, discipline, integrity and electoral organisation.
The petition noted that early action and reconstitution of unresolved structures would prevent internal confusion, restore confidence among loyal members and ensure the APC approaches the 2027 elections with committed and accountable grassroots structures.
Prominent leaders who signed the letter include: the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa; former member of the state House of Assembly, Dr Oluyinka Ogundimu; current member of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Jubreel Abdul Kareem; former members of the House of Representatives: Dr Samuel Adejare and Taofeek Abiodun Adaranijo; former Chairman of Agege Local Government, Rotimi Adeshina; and former Executive Secretary of Agege Local Government, Barrister JO Adejombo; and Director General of Oluwagbenga Micheal Abiola Campaign Organisation (OMACO), Honourable Sola Osolana among others.
