2027: Yagba APC leaders back Abejide’s emergence, demand respect for democracy

Prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, party leaders and elected officials across Yagba Federal Constituency, have backed the emergence of Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide as the party’s candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election.

The leaders warned against disrespect for democracy, stressing that Abejide’s victory at the party’s primary election reflects genuine will of APC members.

Speaking under the platform of the Leke Abejide Support Group (LASG) on Wednesday, the group also released a communique at the end of its meeting, dismissing recent criticisms of Abejide’s emergence, describing them as the product of political disappointment and a deliberate attempt to undermine the democratic decision freely made by party members across the constituency.

According to the group, there was no attempt by anyone to extend the tenure of the lawmaker as alleged by his critics, stressing that Abejide subjected himself to the APC primary election and secured an overwhelming mandate through a transparent democratic process.

They maintained that his candidacy was neither inherited nor imposed, but earned through popular support across the Federal Constituency.

The APC leaders argued that those challenging the outcome of the primary election had openly backed another aspirant during the contest but failed to secure the confidence of party members at the polls.

They noted that the outcome of the election was decisive and reflected the preference of APC members across the 34 wards of Yagba Federal Constituency.

While describing attempts to invalidate the result through media campaigns and public agitation as undemocratic, the group urged all party faithful to respect the verdict delivered by members of the party.

The leaders also faulted arguments based on zoning and rotational arrangements, insisting that such understandings cannot supersede the constitutional rights of eligible citizens to contest elections or the right of voters to choose their preferred representatives.

They argued that the constitutional provisions cited by opponents of Abejide’s emergence were wrongly interpreted, noting that the Constitution neither imposes term limits on legislators nor prohibits any qualified Nigerian from seeking elective office.

“Democracy is not about excluding a candidate because of where he comes from. Democracy is about allowing the people to decide who is best suited to represent their interests,” the group stated.

Highlighting Abejide’s achievements in office, the APC leaders pointed to scholarship programmes that have benefited thousands of students, empowerment initiatives for women and youths, infrastructural projects spread across communities, and the recent grant programme through which more than seventy communities received ₦10 million each to execute projects of their choice.

They said the lawmaker’s track record of performance, accessibility and community-focused interventions has earned him widespread support across Yagba Federal Constituency.

According to them, the people have moved beyond symbolic representation and are increasingly focused on competence, impact and effective service delivery.

“People are interested in results. They’re interested in impact. They’re interested in leaders who understand their needs and have demonstrated the capacity to meet them,” the statement added.

The APC leaders therefore called on party members and the general public to disregard attempts to distort the outcome of the primary election, insisting that the democratic process had run its course and produced a clear winner.

They emphasised that no amount of political pressure, revisionism or propaganda can overturn a mandate freely given by APC members.

“The party members have spoken. The people have spoken. Democracy has spoken, and its verdict deserves respect,” they declared.

The statement was signed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo; Chairman of Yagba West Local Government and ALGON Chairman in Kogi State, Hon. Tosin Olokun; Chairman of Yagba East Local Government, Hon. Dare Joshua; Chairman of Mopamuro Local Government, Hon. Ademola Bello; APC chieftains Chief Babatunde Samuel, Chief Omotosho Oluseyi (The Akeweje of Ogga), Hon. Ayo Mayegun, Hon. Bode Kayode, Pastor Kehinde Asalu, Hon. Oluwaseyi Giwa, Hon. Nike Akolade, Chief Richard Asaje, Engr. Toba Adebayo, Mr Babatunde Moses, Hon. Temitope Omotosho, Mr. Olarewaju Emmanuel, Mr. Emmanuel Adeniyi, Mr. Ajengbe Samuel, Hon. Loveth Samuel, Mrs. Stella Adegoke and Mrs. Funmilayo Odi, among other party leaders and grassroots mobilisers across Yagba Federal Constituency.