- APC stakeholders presented the newly inaugurated executives and ward chairmen to His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja, after their inauguration.
- Hon. John Bull and Hon. Onabokun explained that the inauguration followed months without a response to the petition submitted to the Lagos State APC leadership and reaffirmed that it reflected the earlier agreement of party stakeholders.
- Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja urged APC members to remain united, stating that any future changes to the executive structure should be carried out through the proper party process.
Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Eredo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja, to formally present the newly inaugurated local government executive officers and ward chairmen while updating the monarch on the circumstances surrounding their inauguration.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the delegation, led by APC leaders Hon. Onabokun, Hon. John Bull, Hon. Adelaja, Hon. Oladokun, and other prominent party members, was accompanied by the newly inaugurated executives following their swearing-in ceremony at the APC Secretariat in Eredo.
Also present at the palace were several traditional chiefs from different communities within Eredo LCDA, with some attending on behalf of their respective monarchs, underscoring the importance attached to the visit and the role of the traditional institution in promoting peace and unity within the council area.
Addressing the monarch, Hon. John Bull explained that the visit was to officially brief the royal father on the inauguration and the position of the party stakeholders regarding the February 7, 2026 APC ward and local government congresses.
He stated that party members had patiently awaited a response from the Lagos State APC leadership after submitting a petition in May over the outcome of the congresses but received no feedback.
“We submitted our petition to the state leadership in May and waited for a response. After several months without any official reply, stakeholders agreed that it was necessary to inaugurate the executives that emerged from the congress in order to preserve the integrity of the process,” he said.
Hon. John Bull added that the inauguration was carried out based on the collective decision of party leaders and stakeholders who participated in the congresses, stressing that the action was taken in the interest of justice and internal democracy.
Speaking further, Hon. Onabokun narrated how party leaders had earlier agreed on the executive list during a meeting held at the residence of Governance Advisory Council (GAC) member, Alhaji Seriki Akanni Bamu, before the list was allegedly altered.
“We all agreed on a particular list during our meeting at the residence of Alhaji Seriki Akanni Bamu. Unfortunately, after that meeting, some people went ahead to do something entirely different from what had been agreed upon. We felt it was important to stand by the collective decision of the party leaders who participated in that process,” he said.
He noted that the stakeholders considered it necessary to formally present the newly inaugurated executives to the paramount ruler out of respect for the traditional institution and to seek his royal blessing.
Responding, His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja, commended the party leaders for deeming it fit to brief the palace and urged all APC members in Eredo LCDA to place unity above personal interests.
“Party members should remain in one accord and speak with one voice. Unity is the foundation of progress, and no individual ambition should create enmity among members of the same political family,” the monarch advised.
The royal father acknowledged the explanations presented by the stakeholders, noting that from the account given to him, the inauguration was based on an earlier agreement reached by party leaders before events later took a different direction.
“If it was the agreement of the party to inaugurate these members before some people did what was not generally acceptable, then I support whatever decision is collectively taken by the party. However, if there will be any reason to make changes in the future, it must be done properly and through the appropriate party process,” Oba Ogunlaja said.
He further appealed to all factions within the APC in Eredo LCDA to embrace dialogue and reconciliation in the interest of the party’s growth and the development of the council area.
The visit ended with prayers for peace, unity, and continued progress for the All Progressives Congress, Eredo LCDA, Lagos State, and Nigeria.
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