The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Areas has dismissed what it describes as “cheap blackmail” and “false narratives” regarding the health of its Agege Local Government chairmanship candidate, Alhaji Tunde Azeez.
The party’s candidates also addressed persistent allegations of imposition linked to the recently concluded APC primaries for the Lagos local government elections scheduled for 12 July.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Akinola Idowu, the chairmanship candidate for Orile-Agege LCDA, condemned the protests against their candidacies as the work of “politicians lacking sportsmanship.”
He urged the public to disregard the “false narratives” being spread by disgruntled aspirants, affirming that the Agege primaries were “transparent, free and fair.”
Idowu stated, “The so-called aggrieved group comprises failed aspirants, some of whom only recently defected from the PDP, while others reside abroad. Politics is local, it is not about annual visits or WhatsApp donations.”
Clarifying the party’s position on the controversies, he said, “We find it necessary to address the public concerning the debates our elections have generated. Opposition to our candidacies is expected. It is typical of politicians bereft of sportsmanship to cry foul when election results do not favour them.”
Responding to claims of imposition and the health status of Alhaji Tunde Azeez, Idowu remarked, “We do not find it amusing that they resort to cheap blackmail following their defeats, spreading falsehoods about the health of our colleague, Alhaji Tunde Azeez, his running mate Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, son of our leader, Rt Hon. Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa and accusing them of imposition.”
He affirmed Azeez’s health, saying, “It is true that Alhaji Azeez is currently unwell. However, falling ill is part of human nature. For clarity, his condition is neither terminal nor has he been bedridden.”
Regarding Speaker Obasa’s son, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, Idowu dismissed the criticisms as “laughable and nonsensical,” adding, “Their argument against him centres on his birthright — being the son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly — which, in their misguided view, should disqualify him from contesting in Agege, despite his impressive academic credentials and significant philanthropic contributions to our community.”
Johnson Babatunde, Executive Chairman of Orile-Agege LCDA, also present at the briefing, called for unity within the APC. “Elections always produce winners and losers. If they insist on claims of imposition, we challenge them to a rerun — any format, any venue — and they will see that we are prepared,” he said, urging the aggrieved to collaborate with the party for the progress of Agege and Orile-Agege.
Fatai Ajibola, APC General Secretary for Agege Federal Constituency, reaffirmed the credibility of the primaries. “I participated in the primaries.
They were free and fair. If a rerun is conducted, the outcome will remain unchanged. We are all APC, and we must unite for victory,” he concluded.
Also in attendance were APC Chairmen of Orile-Agege and Agege LG, Salau Olaniyi and Chief Ganiu Egunjobi respectively, alongside numerous party executives and candidates. Councillorship candidates for Orile-Agege LCDA included Adegoke Lawal (Ward A), Akinbile Olushola (Ward B), Balogun Waheed (Ward C), Omotunde Afolabi (Ward D), Tamitope and Aminat (Ward E), and Sunmonu Olalekan (Ward F). Councillorship candidates for Agege LG were Hamzat Kazeem (Ward A), Garuba Adewale (Ward B), Adesina Ishola (Ward C), Osagibovo Johnathan (Ward D), Ganiu Adeyemo (Ward E), Yusuf Arasiola (Ward F), and Ramat Sanni (Ward G).
