Traditional rulers in Agege and Orile-Agege, Lagos State, have appealed to former Agege Local Government chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi, and Azeez Yusuf to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The appeal was made at a peace meeting held to address concerns over the political developments in the area ahead of the 2027 elections. The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Muslim clerics, and members of the Arewa community.
The Alaige of Orile-Agege, Oba Ambaliu Agbeleyi, said reports of possible violence arising from the political situation prompted the meeting. Agbeleyi, who has been on the throne for 14 years, said his priority remained the peace, stability, and development of the community. He appealed to Egunjobi and Yusuf to reconsider their positions and return to the APC, urging them to preserve the peace that had prevailed during their years in office.
The Olu of Agege, Oba Oyedeji Kamila Ishiba, also urged the politicians and their supporters to shun confrontation. Ishiba said the community did not want fight or rancour, and that promotion was from God. He urged them to work on achieving peace and stability. The Baale of Dopemu, High Chief Shuaib Ajayi, called on stakeholders to uphold truth and support the efforts of religious and community leaders to maintain peace.
Religious leaders also appealed for peace and stability in the community. The Chairman of CAN in Orile-Agege, Apostle J.B. Olubode, said religious leaders would continue to pray for the peace and progress of the APC and the community. The Chief Imam of Dopemu, Alhaji Sulaiman, urged party leaders to intervene in the political disagreement and prevail on their members to avoid actions capable of triggering violence.
The CAN Coordinator in Agege Local Government Area, Pastor Bayo Jesuniyi, said the religious community was primarily concerned about peace and continued development in Agege. He urged political leaders to embrace tolerance and avoid actions capable of undermining peaceful coexistence. The State House of Assembly election is scheduled for February 6, 2027, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s revised timetable.
Egunjobi, who is the APM House of Assembly candidate, responded to the appeal by saying he was unaware of the meeting until he was invited by one of the clerics. Egunjobi called on the APC leadership to act fairly and pursue reconciliation. He claimed he won the party’s primary election but that the party subsequently settled for another candidate, arguing that the development should have been followed by a reconciliation process.
Egunjobi commended the convener of the peace meeting and assured residents that the political disagreements would not lead to violence in the community. The Lagos State chapter of the APC had previously announced Egunjobi and Yusuf's expulsion from the party over alleged anti-party activities and disloyalty. The peace meeting was convened to address concerns over the political developments in the area ahead of the 2027 elections.
Key points
- Traditional rulers in Lagos State appeal to Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf to return to the APC.
- The appeal was made at a peace meeting attended by traditional rulers, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Muslim clerics, and members of the Arewa community.
- Egunjobi and Yusuf had defected from the APC to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
