Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege, Lagos, have said the defection of two House of Assembly aspirants from the party to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) will not have any negative impact on its electoral strength.

  A former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu, who spoke on behalf of the stakeholders, made the position known while speaking to the newsmen yesterday on the defection of the immediate past Chairman of Agege Local Government, Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi, and Mr Azeez Yusuf.

  The Agege progressive leaders in attendance include Hon Kayode Opeifa, Rotimi Adeshina, Abfulkareem Jubril, Babatunde Adejare, Taofeek Adebanjo, Kamorudeen Sabitu, Adejombo Omofunlilewa and Adewale Adeyeye among others.
  The stakeholders confirmed that both men had not only defected to the APM but had also secured the party’s tickets to contest the Agege State Constituency I and II seats, respectively, in the forthcoming general elections.

  “We wish to state categorically that their defection will never have any negative impact on the party. We want to assure the party leadership that we will deliver all our party candidates in the next elections,” they said.

  They pledged to mobilise support across the constituency to secure victory for APC candidates, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Deputy Governor Dr Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,  Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

  The stakeholders also reaffirmed support for the party’s House of Assembly candidates in Agege, Oluwagbenga Micheal Abiola for Constituency I and Shakiru Enimakure for Constituency II.

  According to them, the defection of Egunjobi and Yusuf did not come as a surprise, as reports of their intention to leave the party had circulated within the locality.

  “We remain steadfast and committed to mobilising for massive votes for APC candidates in our Federal Constituency,” they added.

  While reiterating their loyalty to the APC leadership in Lagos State, the stakeholders called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the defection, with a view to taking appropriate disciplinary action.

  They also urged the state leadership to urgently review and conclude all pending reconciliation and harmonisation processes relating to unresolved party structures in Agege Local Government and the Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area.

  The group warned that failure to address these internal issues could create openings for opposition elements to exploit.

  In addition, the stakeholders called for immediate action over what they described as disrespect towards the state governor and party leadership, particularly regarding supervisors who are yet to be sworn in.

  They further urged that party members found to have defected or to be complicit with the defectors be identified and removed from leadership structures, and barred from participating in the party’s planning and execution of the 2027 elections.

  “We have implicit confidence in the leadership of the Lagos State APC and we hope they will take appropriate action on our requests,” the stakeholders said.