Party leaders, elected officials, and prominent APC stakeholders from across Yagba Federal Constituency have rallied behind the emergence of Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election, insisting that his victory at the party’s primary election reflects the genuine will of APC members.
The leaders, speaking under the platform of the Leke Abejide Support Group (LASG), dismissed recent criticisms surrounding Abejide’s emergence, describing them as a product of political disappointment and a calculated attempt to undermine the democratic decision freely made by party members across the constituency.
According to the group, contrary to allegations by some critics, there was no attempt by anyone to extend the lawmaker’s tenure through undemocratic means. They stressed that Abejide duly participated in the APC primary election and secured an overwhelming mandate through a transparent and credible democratic process.
They maintained that his candidacy was neither inherited nor imposed but earned through broad-based support from party members across the Federal Constituency.
The APC leaders argued that those now challenging the outcome of the primary election had openly supported another aspirant during the contest but failed to secure the confidence and votes of party members.
They noted that the outcome of the election was clear and decisive, reflecting the preference of APC members across the 34 wards that make up Yagba Federal Constituency.
Describing ongoing attempts to invalidate the result through media campaigns and public agitation as undemocratic, the group urged party faithful and stakeholders 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 democratic right of voters to choose their preferred representatives.
They further argued that the constitutional provisions cited by opponents of Abejide’s emergence had been 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 targeting women and youths, and numerous infrastructural projects spread across communities within the constituency.
They also referenced the recent community grant programme through which more than 70 communities reportedly received ₦10 million each to execute development projects of their choice.
According to the leaders, the lawmaker’s record of performance, accessibility, and community-focused interventions has earned him widespread acceptance and support across Yagba Federal Constituency.
They added that the people have moved beyond symbolic representation and are increasingly focused on competence, impact, and effective service delivery.
“The people are interested in results. They are interested in impact. They are 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 emphasized 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 mobilizers across Yagba Federal Constituency.
