Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State have taken their protest to the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, demanding a review of the outcome of the party’s primary election for Agege Constituency I ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group, led by Johnson Kolawole, insists that the results of the May 20, 2026, primary election were manipulated, denying Egunjobi Ganiyu Kola, who they claim won the election, his rightful position as the APC candidate. They argue that the published result, which named Oluwagbenga Michael Abiola as the winner, contradicts the official declaration made by the returning officer.
Kolawole, speaking to journalists after submitting a formal petition to the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and the National Working Committee (NWC), emphasized that the primary election was conducted transparently and peacefully. He stated that the delegation included the chairmen and secretaries of the five wards in Agege Constituency I, as well as the APC chairman and secretary for the local government. According to the protesters, Egunjobi secured 9,132 votes out of 10,126 votes cast, while Oladipo Tunde Shola received 560 votes and Oluwagbenga Michael Abiola got 434 votes.
The group maintained that Egunjobi was properly screened and cleared to contest, and was officially declared the winner by the returning officer, Hon. Kayode Kassim Eleshin, at the end of the exercise. They noted that the election was monitored by APC officials, INEC observers, security agencies, journalists, and other stakeholders, all of whom witnessed a credible process. Despite this, the protesters expressed alarm over a newspaper report on May 25, 2026, which announced Oluwagbenga Michael Abiola as the APC candidate, a result they say does not reflect the actual outcome.
Kolawole urged the APC National Working Committee and all relevant party organs to uphold the authentic result declared by the returning officer and formally recognize Egunjobi Ganiyu Kola as the legitimate candidate for Lagos State House of Assembly, Agege Constituency I. He confirmed that the group is ready to present documentary evidence, video recordings from the five wards, and reports from election observers and security agencies to substantiate their claims. The protesters also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership to intervene and protect what they describe as the genuine mandate of party members in the constituency.
The development highlights growing concerns within the APC about the integrity of internal party processes and the need for transparency in candidate selection. As the 2027 elections approach, this protest underscores the importance of credible primaries in ensuring public trust and party unity. The APC leadership now faces pressure to address the allegations swiftly and fairly to maintain credibility within the party and among the electorate.
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