By Kazeem Akande
Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege and Orile-Agege Lagos State have dismissed allegations of imposition and irregularities in the just-concluded party primaries.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the candidates were on Wednesday at a news conference declared the process was transparent, free, and fair.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Mr Akinola Idowu, the APC Chairmanship Candidate for Orile-Agege, while given his remarks, described those questioning the legitimacy of the primaries as a minority group.
According to him, the primaries conducted by our party were credible, and we emerged through a democratic process.
“Those opposing us are mostly failed aspirants, including some who joined the APC recently from other parties. Their aim is to cause disunity by creating a false impression of mass dissatisfaction.
“They are the minority group of disgruntled aspirants who were yet to come to terms with their loss,” he said.
He alleged that some of the aggrieved individuals had recruited non-party members to exaggerate their numbers and mislead the public as most of them reside abroad or having little grassroots presence in the local government area.
Idowu also debunked rumours surrounding the health of Agege chairmanship candidate, Alhaji Tunde Azeez, affirming that although he was unwell, but his condition was not critical.
“Yes, he is currently sick, but he is not bedridden. Illness is part of human life,” he added.
He also criticised attacks on Azeez’s running mate, who is the son of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Dr Mudashiru Obasa.
“The only thing they hold against him is the identity of his father, which is not a valid reason to disqualify him, especially given his qualifications and contributions to the community,” he said.
The Orile-Agege APC LG candidate also debunked the internal manipulation, that prominent party leaders from all factions, including Rep James Faleke of the Justice Forum, were involved in the primaries.
“It is disingenuous for anyone to blame Obasa for an outcome that their own faction participated in shaping,” he said.
Mr Fatai Ajibola, the APC Party Secretary for Agege and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Areas, reaffirmed the fairness of the exercise and urged aggrieved members to unite for the party’s success in the July 12 council elections.
“Even if we run the primaries again today, our candidates will still win.
“We are members of the same party. The Speaker has extended an olive branch, and we are calling on them to return to the fold so we can move forward together,” Ajibola said.
He added that while internal disagreements were normal in politics, it was essential for party members to respect the will of the majority and support the officially recognised candidates.
NAN reports that the APC candidates concluded the briefing with a call for public support and party unity, emphasising their preparedness to contest and win at the polls.
(NAN)