Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege, Lagos State, have said the defection of two former APC aspirants and political allies of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Kola Egunjobi and Azeez Oladapo Yusuf, popularly known as Ninolowo, to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) will not affect the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.
Egunjobi and Ninolowo are seeking to contest the Agege Constituency I and Agege Constituency II seats, respectively, on the platform of the APM, following disagreements over the APC’s choice of candidates for the two constituencies.
The APC stakeholders made their position known on Monday at a press conference organised by Concerned APC Members in Agege.
A former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and APC chieftain, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, said the defections would not negatively affect the party’s structure in Agege Constituencies I and II.
Ogundimu said the development had generated discussions on social media and in national newspapers but maintained that APC members in Agege remained committed to the party.
“We want to state clearly that we are not surprised by the news of the defection of these former members of our party, as rumours had already circulated in the locality about their intentions.
“We wish to state categorically that their defection will not have any negative impact on our party, the APC,” he said.
He assured the party leadership that APC stakeholders would mobilise support for the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.
“We will mobilise massively and deliver substantial votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President, as well as other APC candidates, including Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Senator Idiat Adebule, Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Oluwagbenga Abiola and Enimakure Akindele Sakiru,” Ogundimu said.
He, however, urged the APC leadership in Lagos State to investigate the circumstances surrounding the defections and take appropriate disciplinary measures where necessary.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Oluwagbenga Michael Oluwagbenga Abiola Omaco Campaign Organisation, Sola Osolana, said Egunjobi’s defection would strengthen the APC’s position in the Agege legislative contest.
Osolana attributed Egunjobi’s political influence largely to the APC structure under which he previously operated, while highlighting what he described as the grassroots engagement of APC candidate Oluwagbenga Abiola, popularly known as Agbelebu.
“Egunjobi’s defection to APM will increase APC votes in Agege. Residents don’t like him,” Osolana said.
He also claimed that Abiola had built stronger relationships with constituents through accessibility and direct engagement with communities.
“Agbelebu is ten times more popular and loved by residents,” he added.
Osolana said political influence should not be measured solely by access to party structures but also by a politician’s relationship with constituents.
The defection followed disagreements over the APC’s candidate selection process in Agege Constituencies I and II. Egunjobi and Ninolowo have said their decision to leave the APC was independent and not at the prompting of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
The 2027 elections are scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with the Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
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