The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the expulsion of Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf, citing anti-party activities, disloyalty, and conduct contrary to the discipline expected of its members. The decision was signed by state chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi and taken pursuant to Article 9(5)(II) of the APC Constitution, as amended in 2022. This move has added fresh fuel to the already combustible political atmosphere in Agege constituency.
Egunjobi and Yusuf had sought the APC’s tickets for Agege Constituencies I and II respectively but failed to secure them. Gbenga Abiola and Sakiru Enimakure were recognised as the APC candidates. Instead of backing down, the duo emerged under the banner of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The APC, unwilling to have its former aspirants contest the same seats on another platform, has now declared that they are no longer members and have no authority to speak or act on behalf of the party.
However, Egunjobi and Yusuf have rejected the expulsion, insisting that they resigned from the APC in July, before the party announced their removal. They argue that one cannot expel people who had already walked away voluntarily. This development has created a fascinating political subplot in Agege, with the APC having its chosen candidates and Egunjobi and Yusuf flying the APM flag.
Both Egunjobi and Yusuf have long been described as associates of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. Their departure has raised questions about the Speaker's involvement, but in a joint statement, they distanced Obasa from their decision, insisting that he neither engineered nor influenced their departure from the APC. They maintained that their decision was theirs alone and stemmed from grievances surrounding the nomination process.
The expulsion may have formally ended Egunjobi and Yusuf’s chapter in the APC, but the story appears far from over. The political network around one of Lagos’s most closely watched constituencies is being tested once again. The APC's decision to expel Egunjobi and Yusuf has significant implications for the party's presence in Agege.
The development has also raised questions about the party's internal democracy and the nomination process. The APC's move to expel Egunjobi and Yusuf has been seen as a way to assert control over the party's members and prevent potential defections. However, it remains to be seen how this will play out in the long run.
As the political drama in Agege continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the players are determined to have their way. The outcome of this political battle will have significant implications for the APC and the APM in Lagos State. The people of Agege will ultimately decide who will represent them, but for now, the drama continues.
Key points
- The APC has expelled Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf for anti-party activities and disloyalty.
- Egunjobi and Yusuf have rejected the expulsion, claiming they had resigned from the APC in July.
- The development has significant implications for the APC's presence in Agege and the party's internal democracy.
