Former chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege Constituency, Chief Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi and Barrister Azeez Yusuf, have rejected their expulsion from the party. They claim to have formally resigned from the ruling party in July and subsequently joined the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The duo described the expulsion announced by the APC leadership in Lagos State as belated and politically unnecessary.
Egunjobi and Yusuf argued that the APC's September 23 announcement did not alter their political status, as they had already resigned from the party. They cited unresolved grievances arising from the party's primary elections, which they claimed they won in their respective constituencies but were subsequently denied. The former APC members said they had petitioned the party leadership, made representations, and addressed press conferences in attempts to resolve the issues internally.
According to Egunjobi and Yusuf, their concerns were not meaningfully addressed, and there was no genuine engagement, satisfactory resolution, or meaningful effort to restore confidence in the process. They eventually decided to leave the party after exhausting what they described as available avenues for resolving their grievances. The duo also accused the party of attempting to rewrite the circumstances surrounding their departure through the expulsion announcement.
Egunjobi and Yusuf rejected any suggestion that their defection amounted to political betrayal, arguing that politicians routinely move between political parties in Nigeria. They cited examples of politicians who had operated under different political platforms, including Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Dr Wale Ahmed, and Hon. Yinka Ogundimu. The duo argued that their decision to leave the APC should not be treated differently.
The former APC members stressed that their departure from the party did not amount to a rejection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or other political figures they support. They declared their continued support for Tinubu, the APC governorship candidate in Lagos, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and Senator Idiat Adebule. Egunjobi and Yusuf also expressed their support for the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa.
Egunjobi and Yusuf maintained that their decision was based on their political circumstances and the failure of the party to resolve their grievances. They urged their supporters to remain calm and focused, saying they would concentrate on their political activities under the APM platform and the development of Agege and Lagos State. The duo emphasized that their message is simple: they resigned, moved on, and remain focused on the political future ahead.
The expulsion of Egunjobi and Yusuf has raised questions about respect for internal democracy, due process, and the right of party members to make legitimate political choices within the APC. Their decision to leave the party and join the APM has significant implications for the political landscape in Lagos State, particularly in Agege Constituency. The development may also have consequences for the APC's relationships with its members and the electorate.
Key points
- Former APC chieftains Egunjobi and Yusuf reject expulsion, citing prior resignation.
- The duo claims to have resigned from the APC in July and joined the APM.
- Egunjobi and Yusuf argue that the APC's expulsion announcement was belated and politically unnecessary.
