25,000 APC members defect as Accord Party guber candidate steps down for Jimi Agbaje

In what looks like a major upset in the run-up to the 2019 elections, no fewer than 25, 000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday defected to the Accord Party (AP).

This comes as the governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Joseph Ola Beckley, stepped down for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Jimi Agbaje.

Beckley, who announced his decision to step down for Agbaje in Lagos yesterday, said he took the decision to free the state from one man.

But in a swift reaction, Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Joe Igbokwe, dismissed the claimed defection of 25,000, as not only untrue but impossible in Lagos.

“I plead with Agbaje and his supporters to show evidence of where Accord Party has such followers in Lagos State. There should be a video or photo evidence of such crowd in any part of Lagos,” he said.

Igbokwe said the development does not pose any threat to APC chances of retaining power in 2019.

However, Agbaje and his running mate, Mrs. Haleemat Oluwayemisi Busari, former Commissioner for Power, Wale Oluwo, former Commissioner for Housing, Rahman Owokoniran and Lagos PDP Chairman, Dr. Adegbola Dominic, witnessed the event.

Thousands of aggrieved members of the APC, who also endorsed Agbaje, led by Sunday Ajayi, said the National Leader of APC, Bola Tinubu will not find it easy this time, as many people were beginning to leave his camp.

Responding, Agbaje said the task of rescuing the state from one man’s grip was boosted by the defections.

“I am happy to be part of this epoch-making event. The task of rescuing the state is not about me, but about the need to protect our collective commonwealth from the hands of one man.

“Looking at the number of people here today, only a myopic politician would discountenance the worth and calibre of people in this hall. Unfortunately, rather than find a way to fend and cater for the needs of their supporters, they have been more preoccupied with destroying our posters and billboards,” Agbaje said

He urged all Lagosians to spread the gospel of freedom and change that has been spreading in the state.