DAUGHTER of President Bola Tinubu, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has threatened to mobilise a protest over the outcome of the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in Lagos State, alleging manipulation in favour of the Justice Forum faction of the party.
Tinubu-Ojo, who stated this on Wednesday, May 28, during the weekly meeting of market leaders and stakeholders held at her office in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State, specifically questioned the results announced for Mushin Federal Constituency II, Agege Constituency II and Ojokoro Constituency, insisting that the declared outcomes did not reflect the actual results of the primaries.
The state chapter of the APC had on Monday, May 25, released names of candidates who emerged from the House of Representatives and State House of Assembly primaries ahead of the general elections.
The list, signed by the state Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, showed that 24 candidates emerged for House of Representatives tickets, while 40 secured tickets for the House of Assembly.
Among the names announced as winners in the state Assembly primaries were Mojisola Meranda for Apapa I; Musibau Lawal for Apapa II; Barakat Bakare-Odunuga for Surulere I; and Damilola Ayinde-Marshall for Surulere II.
Tinubu-Ojo, however, urged APC leaders at both the state and national levels to investigate the disputed primaries before the final ratification of the results, warning that unresolved grievances could deepen divisions within the ruling party.
She insisted that some aspirants, such as Seye Oladejo in Mushin Constituency II; Mutiu Olaide Oladeebo in Agege II; and Olotu Ojo in Ojokoro Constituency, legitimately won the primaries and should not be denied their mandates.
According to her: “We are ready to protest because of Seye Oladejo of Mushin Federal Constituency 11; Mutiu Olaide Oladeebo of Agege Constituency 11; and Olotu Ojo of Ojokoro Constituency, because we know they won this election.
“Their mandate should not be given to somebody else.”
Tinubu-Ojo also warned that the increasing rivalry between the Justice Forum and Mandate Group factions within the APC could threaten the unity of the party ahead of the general elections, noting: “We have to cry out now. Let APC cancel Justice and Mandate Forums. We are one family. We are for APC.
“Now, they are using Justice Forum and Mandate because our candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, belongs to the Justice Forum. Everyone is now joining the Justice Forum because they believe that is where the incoming governor belongs. Are we not Lagosians? We are all APC.
“Even when he becomes governor, he will not govern only APC members; he has to balance it. Everyone must be carried along. If you are a leader, you are leading both your friends and foes.
“I can’t understand members of the Mandate Group dumping Mandate and joining the Justice Forum. And if Mandate won the election, they would try to manipulate and put Justice Forum members there.
“It is saddening. It is a way of telling us that hard work does not pay in politics. Something must be done about it.”
She reiterated the support of market women across the state for Hamzat’s governorship ambition and other APC candidates, saying traders and market stakeholders represent a significant voting bloc in Lagos politics and deserve greater inclusion in governance and political appointments across the state.
