Abejide’s House of reps victory, a reflection of the will of the people — Stakeholders

By Precious Mark

Prominent chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State have described the emergence of Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide as the party’s candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election as the will of party members.

The leaders, under the platform of the Leke Abejide Support Group (LASG), described recent criticisms of his emergence as politically motivated and aimed at undermining the outcome of a transparent democratic process conducted within the party.

The statement, which was signed by Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, alongside other APC leaders and stakeholders in the constituency, dismissed allegations of manipulation or tenure extension as unfounded.

They group argued that Abejide duly participated in the APC primary election and secured what they described as an overwhelming mandate from delegates across the constituency, stressing that the process was transparent and reflected the decision of APC members across the 34 wards of Yagba Federal Constituency.

The group noted that those challenging the outcome had supported other aspirants during the contest but were defeated at the polls, adding that efforts to overturn the result through media campaigns amounted to an affront on internal party democracy.

They also dismissed arguments based on zoning and rotational arrangements, insisting that such political considerations cannot override the constitutional rights of eligible citizens to contest elections or the right of party members to choose their preferred candidates.

“The Constitution does not impose restrictions on qualified Nigerians from seeking elective office, nor does it prevent voters from selecting their preferred representatives,” the leaders said.

They maintained that democracy should be defined by the will of the people rather than exclusion based on political arrangements or background.

Highlighting Abejide’s performance in office, the APC leaders cited scholarship programmes for students, empowerment initiatives for women and youths, infrastructure projects across communities, and a grant scheme through which more than 70 communities reportedly received ₦10 million each for local development projects.

According to them, these interventions have strengthened his acceptance across the constituency, with voters increasingly prioritising performance, accessibility and delivery of constituency projects.

“The people are interested in results and impact, not sentiments. They want leaders who have demonstrated capacity to deliver,” the statement added.

The leaders appealed to party members and the public to disregard what they described as attempts to distort the outcome of the primary election, insisting that the democratic process had produced a clear winner.

They added that no amount of political pressure or propaganda could overturn the mandate freely given by APC members.

“The party members have spoken. Democracy has spoken, and its verdict must be respected,” they said.