Tinubu’s daughter rejects Lagos APC primaries, threatens protest

Daughter of President Bola Tinubu and Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has rejected the list of candidates released by the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, alleging that the primary election process was manipulated in favour of a faction within the party.

Mrs Tinubu-Ojo made the allegations during the weekly meeting of market leaders and stakeholders held at her office in Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday.

She also threatened mass protest if the outcome of the primaries was not reviewed by the party leadership.

The president’s daughter specifically faulted the results announced for Mushin Federal Constituency II, Agege Constituency II and Ojokoro Constituency, insisting that the declared winners did not reflect the true choice of party members and the electorate.

“We are ready to protest because of Seye Oladejo of Mushin Federal Constituency II, Mutiu Olaide Oladeebo of Agege II Constituency, and Olotu Ojo of Ojokoro Constituency, because we know they won this election.

“Their mandate should not be given to somebody else,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu-Ojo warned that unresolved grievances arising from the primaries could deepen divisions within the ruling party and threaten its cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to her, internal party structures were being manipulated along factional lines, particularly between the Justice Forum and Mandate Group, a development she said could undermine unity within the APC.

“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 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 added.

Mrs Tinubu-Ojo further reaffirmed the commitment of market women across Lagos to support the governorship ambition of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and other APC candidates, while insisting that traders deserved greater recognition and political inclusion for their support to the party.