A group under the banner of Ojo APC Indigenous Vanguard has issued a formal statement rejecting reported plans to nominate an individual of Igbo origin as the next Vice-Chairman of Ojo Local Government Area.

In the statement titled “Enough is Enough,” and copied to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, the Governor of Lagos State, the Lagos West Senator, and other party leaders, the group expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as a recurring pattern of nominating individuals from the Igbo ethnic group for the vice-chairmanship position. They argue that qualified candidates of Yoruba origin are available within the local government and should be prioritized.

“We hereby unequivocally condemn the inordinate ambition of some group of people to impose any Igbo personality on us as the Vice-Chairman of our dear Ojo Local Government Council,” the group stated.

Citing past political appointments, the statement noted that, apart from a brief period under the late Solomon Akin-Aina, the Vice-Chairman position has often been allocated to individuals of Igbo origin over the last three decades.

The group questioned the rationale behind this trend, alleging it has not translated into political support from the affected communities during elections.

“It’s on record that we witnessed serious challenges during the 2023 State and National elections,” the statement added, pointing to Ward C as an example. “Despite the Vice-Chairman being one of them, the elections in that area were marred by hostility,” it continued.
The group further stated that since the Vice-Chairmanship position has gone to Igbos in the last 15 years, there has been no significant improvement in APC’s electoral performance in Ojo LGA.

“They have always preferred to be in stiff opposition to us politically,” the statement said, attributing past losses in the House of Representatives elections to a lack of support from these quarters.

It also raised questions about the strategic value of continuing the practice. “What have been their positive and progressive contributions to the political development of Ojo LGA that can justify this appointment?” the group asked.

The statement called on party leaders at all levels — from the local government to the national level — to reconsider any ongoing plan to nominate an Igbo candidate for the position. “We calmly but emphatically appeal to the leaders of the party to rescind their intentions to foist an Igbo candidate on us,” it stated.

The group emphasized its support for other Chairmanship aspirants from wards aside from Ward A — which it said had already produced the Chairmanship candidate — as better suited to fill the Vice-Chairman slot.