By Lukman Olabiyi
Both chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege and Orile-Agege for the upcoming July 12, Local Government (LG) elections have publicly addressed the growing controversy surrounding their emergence, dismissed claims of imposition and also defended the integrity of the party’s primaries.
Speaking at a press briefing attended by party executives from both councils, the candidates asserted that the May 10 primaries were “transparent, free and fair,” and that opposition to their candidacies came from “a small, inconsequential fringe” within the party.
According to Hon. Akinola Abiola Idowu, the chairmanship candidate for Orile-Agege who spoke on behalf of others said most of the criticisms against their emergence are being driven by disgruntled aspirants who lost out during the primaries.
“It is not unusual for politicians lacking sportsmanship to cry foul after losing,” Idowu said, describing the complaints as politically motivated and misleading.
He alleged that the aggrieved group, which now claims allegiance to the Justice Forum, a political bloc within Lagos APC, resorted to mobilizing individuals with no ties to the party to inflate their ranks and mislead the public.
Among those named in the opposition camp is Sola Osolana, a former PDP candidate for the Agege Federal Constituency, who also served as a supervisory councillor under the current administration.
The candidates noted that Osolana currently has an unresolved legal case against the local government following his suspension.
On concerns raised about the health of APC’s Agege chairmanship candidate, Alhaji Tunde Azeez, the candidates confirmed he is unwell but dismissed rumors about his condition being severe.
“His illness is neither terminal nor is he bedridden,” they clarified.
They also pushed back against criticisms of the party’s vice-chairmanship candidate, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, son of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
“It is laughable and nonsensical to say a person’s birth disqualifies him from running for office,” they said, highlighting Obasa’s academic record and contributions to the community.
Addressing allegations of election manipulation, the candidates questioned the logic of blaming Speaker Obasa for the primary results, especially given that Hon. James Faleke, a key figure in the Justice Forum, also played a major role in the primaries.
They ended with a strong show of confidence, declaring their readiness for any rerun should the need arise.
“Even if there’s a rerun, we would beat them silly,” they said, drawing cheers from party loyalists present.
The candidates concluded by urging the public to disregard the “false narratives” and called on aggrieved party members to accept the decisions of the APC delegates and unite behind the party’s flagbearers ahead of the election.
“Together, let’s work to secure victory on July 12,” they said.