A dramatic turn of events has unfolded in Lagos politics as Chief Ganiyu Kolawole Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf, who lost the APC primary for Agege Constituencies I and II, have secured tickets from the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the same constituencies. This move has significant implications for Speaker Mudashiru Obasa's political base in Agege. Egunjobi and Yusuf were expelled from the APC on September 23 for anti-party activities and disloyalty.
The expulsion of Egunjobi and Yusuf is seen as a direct challenge to Obasa's political structure in Agege, a stronghold he has controlled for nearly two decades. Obasa had openly endorsed Egunjobi and Yusuf as his preferred Assembly candidates at a stakeholders meeting in May. However, the APC leadership announced Gbenga Abiola and Sakiru Enimakure as the winners, leading to Egunjobi and Yusuf's departure from the party.
Egunjobi and Yusuf claim they had resigned from the APC in July, but the party maintains that their expulsion is valid. The duo's decision to join the APM has sparked concerns about the potential impact on Obasa's ambition to contest the Agege Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives. Obasa's move to the federal level is seen as a strategic exit ramp to national relevance and a possible run for higher office.
The Agege Assembly ticket fight has become a referendum on Obasa's influence and control. If Abiola and Enimakure win in 2027, it would mean the Lagos APC has successfully installed a new leadership in Agege without Obasa. Conversely, if Egunjobi and Yusuf pull an upset on the APM platform, it would redefine Obasa's relationship with the party.
The implications of Egunjobi and Yusuf's defection to the APM are far-reaching. If they contest against APC candidates, they may split the APC votes in Agege I and II, potentially leading to a narrow victory or a loss for the party. This scenario could be cited as proof that Obasa's control over Agege is waning.
Obasa's federal ambition is still alive, but the controversy surrounding Egunjobi and Yusuf's defection has raised questions about his capacity to protect his core supporters. If Obasa campaigns for his allies, he faces sanctions from the APC. If he abandons them, he will appear disloyal to his own men.
The Lagos APC's new primary management has changed the narrative in Agege, demonstrating that Obasa's influence no longer automatically translates to ticket control. The party's decision to expel Egunjobi and Yusuf sends a disciplinary message, signalling that no leader can treat membership as a convenient political garment.
Key points
- Egunjobi and Yusuf's defection to APM has significant implications for Obasa's control over Agege and his federal ambition.
- The Lagos APC's expulsion of Egunjobi and Yusuf is seen as a direct challenge to Obasa's political structure in Agege.
- The Agege Assembly ticket fight has become a referendum on Obasa's influence and control.
