By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
A pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos APC Youth Vanguard, has berated Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, over his congratulatory message to Gbenga Abiola on the Lagos State House of Assembly primary election in Agege Constituency I, describing the post as misleading and divisive.
The group’s convener, Comrade Gbenga Osolana, said Ogra’s statement was an attempt to distort the outcome of the APC primary and undermine the democratic decision of party members in the constituency.
Ogra had, in a post on his official X handle @Otegaogara congratulated Hon. Barakat Odunuga and Hon. Gbenga Abiola for triumphing in their respective Lagos Assembly APC primaries, commending their loyalty and contributions to the party over the years.
He stated that both politicians had consistently served their communities and remained loyal to the APC even when no one was watching.
However, reacting to the post, Osolana maintained that former Chairman of Agege Local Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi, emerged winner of the primary election, insisting that any contrary claim amounted to misinformation.
Osolana appealed to President Tinubu to caution O’tega Ogra against what he described as the spread of fake news regarding the Agege Constituency I primary election.
He further accused the presidential aide of attempting to influence public perception because of his alleged relationship with Abiola, insisting that the people of the constituency had already spoken through the primary process.
According to him, the people elected former Chairman of Agege Local Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi, and their decision should not be sacrificed because of personal affiliations.
Furthermore, Osolana described Ogra’s intervention as inappropriate for a presidential aide, warning that such comments could fuel unnecessary tension and division within the party.
He argued that it was wrong for an aide to the President to attempt to alter the narrative of the election through social media posts capable of generating anger and hostility among party faithful.
The APC youth leader also criticised Abiola’s political posture, alleging that his actions could undermine party unity and youth participation within the Agege APC structure.
According to Osolana, Abiola had benefited politically from the support and influence of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, adding that his present agitation amounted to an affront against the party leader.
He warned that if such actions were not checked, they could negatively affect the interests and future of young politicians within the APC.
Osolana further alleged that Abiola had been absent from critical party activities and engagements in recent times, describing the development as unhealthy for grassroots mobilisation and internal cohesion within the party.
He, however, maintained that President Tinubu remained committed to democratic principles and would never support any anti-democratic action capable of undermining due process within the APC.
The APC Youth Leader also argued that Ogra lacked firsthand knowledge of the primary election, noting that the presidential aide was neither present at the venue nor involved in the conduct of the exercise.
According to him, Ogra was not in a position to know what transpired at the poll from Aso Villa because he was neither an electoral officer nor a participant in the election.
The controversy has further exposed simmering tensions within the APC in Agege, as stakeholders continue to contest the outcome of the assembly primary ahead of the next electoral cycle.
