Party leaders and elected officials across the Yagba federal constituency have defended the emergence of Leke Abejide as the APC candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election in  Kogi.

The leader, speaking on the aegis of the Leke Abejide Support Group on Wednesday in Lokoja, declared that his victory at the party’s primary election reflected the genuine will of members.

They dismissed recent criticisms of Mr Abejide’s emergence, describing them as the product of political disappointment and a deliberate attempt to undermine the democratic decision freely made by party members across the constituency.

According to the group, there was no attempt by anyone to extend the lawmaker’s tenure, as alleged by his critics, stressing that Abejide subjected himself to the APC primary election and secured an overwhelming mandate through a transparent, democratic process.

They maintained that his candidacy was neither inherited nor imposed but earned through popular support across the Federal Constituency.

The APC leaders argued that those now challenging the outcome of the primary election had openly backed another aspirant during the contest but failed to secure the confidence of party members at the polls.

They noted that the election outcome was decisive and reflected the preferences of APC members across the 34 wards of the Yagba Federal Constituency.

Describing attempts to invalidate the result through media campaigns and public agitation as undemocratic, the group urged all party faithful to respect the verdict delivered by party members.

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 right of voters to choose their preferred representatives.

They argued that the constitutional provisions cited by opponents of Mr Abejide’s emergence were 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 Mr Abejide’s achievements in office, the APC leaders pointed to scholarship programmes that have benefited thousands of students, empowerment initiatives for women and youths, infrastructural projects spread across communities, and the recent grant programme through which more than seventy communities received ₦10 million each to execute projects of their choice.

They said the lawmaker’s track record of performance, accessibility and community-focused interventions has earned him widespread support across the Yagba Federal Constituency.

According to them, 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 emphasised that no amount of political pressure, revisionism or propaganda can overturn a mandate freely given by APC members.

The statement was signed by the Kogi commissioner for information and communications, Kingsley Fanwo; all chairmen of Yagba West and Yagba East LGAs; Dare Joshua, Mopamuro council area; and Ademola Bello. Others are APC chieftains, Babatunde Samuel, Omotosho Oluseyi (Akeweje of Ogga), Ayo Mayegun, Bode Kayode, Kehinde Asalu, Oluwaseyi Giwa, Nike Akolade, Richard Asaje, Toba Adebayo, Babatunde Moses,  Temitope Omotosho, and Olarewaju Emmanuel.

Emmanuel Adeniyi, Ajengbe Samuel, Loveth Samuel, Stella Adegoke and Funmilayo Odi, among other party leaders and grassroots mobilisers across the Yagba federal constituency, also signed the statement.

(NAN)