LAGOS — Former members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi and Barrister Azeez Yusuf, have rejected their purported expulsion from the party, saying they resigned from the APC in July 2026, weeks before the party announced their expulsion.
The duo, in a statement on Wednesday, described the expulsion as belated and politically unnecessary, insisting that they had already communicated their resignation and subsequently joined the Allied Peoples Movement, APM.
The reaction followed an announcement by the Lagos State chapter of the APC on September 23 that the two politicians had been expelled from the party.
Egunjobi and Yusuf said their resignation and defection had been publicly reported by several newspapers, questioning the basis for expelling persons who had already left the party.
“We resigned from the APC in July 2026 — weeks before the Party announced our purported expulsion on September 23.
“We had already made our decision, communicated our position and moved on politically. We subsequently joined the Allied Peoples Movement (APM),” they said.
They alleged that their decision to leave the APC followed unresolved grievances arising from the party’s primary elections, claiming that they won the primaries in their respective constituencies but were subsequently denied their tickets.
According to them, they submitted petitions, made representations and held press conferences while seeking the intervention of the party leadership.
They said their efforts did not produce what they considered a satisfactory resolution, prompting them to leave the APC after exhausting available internal avenues.
The former APC members described the September 23 expulsion announcement as an attempt to “rewrite a political history that had already moved on.”
They also questioned the party’s handling of internal disagreements, saying the action raised concerns about internal democracy, due process and the right of party members to make political choices.
The duo said they would not be intimidated by the development and maintained that they had no regrets over their decision to leave the APC.
Cite political movements
Egunjobi and Yusuf also argued that movement between political parties was a common feature of Nigerian politics and should not be treated as an offence.
They cited the political careers of several individuals who, according to them, had moved between the APC and other political parties before returning or working with the APC.
They said their own defection should therefore not be portrayed as an act of betrayal.
“Cross-carpeting is a familiar feature of Nigerian politics. Politicians leave parties, join other parties and, in many cases, return to their former political homes when circumstances change,” they said.
The duo said their decision to join the APM was based on their political circumstances and unresolved grievances, insisting that it was not a declaration of hostility towards political leaders and candidates they continued to support.
Declare support for Tinubu, Hamzat, others
Egunjobi and Yusuf also said their exit from the APC should not be interpreted as a rejection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or other political figures they support.
They declared continued support for Tinubu, Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, former Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa.
They said they were also working for the success of the Tinubu-Hamzat political project in Agege despite their decision to leave the APC.
“Our political disagreement with certain aspects of the APC leadership does not erase our support for these leaders,” they said.
They maintained that leaving the APC did not amount to abandoning their political allies, relationships or principles.
The duo urged their supporters to remain calm and focused, saying they would concentrate on their political activities under the APM and the welfare of their constituents.
“We resigned, we moved on, and we remain focused on the political future ahead,” they said.
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