By Ebunoluwa Sessou, Matthew Johnson & Boluwatife Adeyefa

Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Alimosho Federal Constituency have rejected alleged attempts to impose a candidate on the constituency, insisting that the outcome of the party’s recent primary election must be respected.

The stakeholders made their position known during a press conference in Alimosho on Thursday, where they called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to intervene and uphold the decision of party members.

Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Mr. Okedara Kolawole of the Consolidated APC Grassroots Movement, CAGRAND, alleged that moves were being made by some party leaders outside the constituency to overturn the mandate given to the incumbent member representing Alimosho Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Ganiyu Ayuba.

He explained that Ayuba secured 37,021 votes in the APC primary election, while his closest opponent polled 2,793 votes. He said the result reflected the wishes of party members across the constituency and should not be altered.

Kolawole stated that before the primary election, party leaders and stakeholders in the constituency met and adopted Ayuba as a consensus candidate. He warned against actions capable of creating disaffection within the party ahead of future elections.

According to him, Ayuba enjoys the support of party leaders, elected officials, council chairmen, councillors, ward executives, and grassroots members across the constituency.

Kolawole said: “Alimosho remains one of the most politically strategic constituencies in Lagos State and deserves fairness in the party’s decision-making process.

“We call on the party’s national leadership to ensure that the outcome of the primary election is respected.

“The result is clear and represents the collective will of APC members in Alimosho.

Any attempt to impose another candidate against the wishes of party members will undermine internal democracy.

“We call on the APC leadership to protect the mandate freely given by party members and ensure that the outcome of the primary election remains unchanged.”

In his remarks, Ayuba, the incumbent House of Representatives member representing Alimosho Federal Constituency, appealed to party members and residents of Alimosho to remain calm and continue supporting the APC and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He described the mandate he received as one belonging to the people of Alimosho, stressing that it was obtained without any internal or external influence.

Ayuba added that he remained committed to providing effective representation and promoting the development and security of the constituency.

“This is not my personal mandate. It is the mandate of the people. I appeal to everyone to remain calm and continue to support our party and the government of President Bola Tinubu.

“I pledged to my people that more should be expected in my second term. We have made it mandatory to keep Alimosho and Lagos safe, just as the stakeholders have said,” Ayuba stated.

Also speaking, the monarch of Ikotun Kingdom, Oba Azeez Gbadabiu, urged residents to support Ayuba’s second-term bid and cautioned against actions capable of disrupting peace during the electoral process.

“We will not allow anybody to destroy what we have built over the years. The people should be allowed to make their choice peacefully,” the monarch said.

Similarly, the Iyaloja of Badore Market, Ganiat Balogun, called on residents to participate actively in the democratic process and support candidates of their choice.

She said Ayuba had continued to enjoy support among traders and residents because of his engagement with grassroots communities.

“The people came out in large numbers to support Ayuba because he understands their needs and carries everybody along, especially market women,” she said.