By Ebunoluwa Sessou

The Orile-Agege Descendants and Indigenous Awori People of Agege have commended the leadership of the All Progressives Congress,APC, for the emergence of Sakiru Enimakure as the party’s candidate for Agege Constituency I,I in the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly election.

The group also expressed support for the emergence of Gbenga Abiola popularly known as Agbelebu as the APC candidate for Agege Constituency I.

In a statement signed by Orile Agege Descendants and Indigenous Awori People of Agege, representatives of the indigenous Awori community described the development as a victory for justice, inclusion, fairness, and recognition of the longstanding contributions of the people of Orile-Agege to progressive politics in Lagos State.

According to the group, the political history of Orile-Agege is deeply rooted in the evolution of progressive political movements, dating back to the days of the Action Group, AG, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Social Democratic Party, SDP, Alliance for Democracy, AD, Action Congress, AC, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and now the APC.

The community leaders recalled that Orile-Agege played a significant role in the political journey of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the area provided grassroots support during his successful bid for the Lagos West Senatorial seat under the SDP.

They also paid tribute to notable political figures from the community, including the late Olu of Agege Kingdom, Oba Lateef Adeyemi Akinsosonyin I, and the late Balogun of Orile-Agege, Chief Nojeem Akinola, whom they said were instrumental in mobilising support for progressive politics in the area.

The group highlighted the contributions of the late Sule Adisa Enimakure, father of the APC candidate, who served as Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy in Agege Local Government and later as Vice Chairman of both the Action Congress and Action Congress of Nigeria until his death in 2014.

Despite what they described as years of political marginalisation and underrepresentation, the indigenous Awori people said they had remained loyal to the APC and consistently supported the party during elections.

They noted that no indigene of Orile-Agege, Ogba, or Agege emerged in the last local government elections as chairman, vice chairman, or councillor across the local government and local council development areas, yet the community remained committed to the party and worked for its electoral victories.

The group described Enimakure as the only recognised indigene among the successful APC candidates presented from Agege for the 2027 general elections, saying his emergence represents the aspirations and expectations of indigenous communities in Orile-Agege, Ogba, and Agege.

They appealed to the APC leadership at both national and state levels to uphold the party’s decision and allow Enimakure’s candidacy to stand, arguing that doing so would strengthen confidence in the party, promote unity, and reward loyalty among grassroots members.

According to the group, the emergence of Enimakure and Abiola has renewed enthusiasm among party faithful, youths, women, elders, and community stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.

The community also pledged massive electoral support for the APC in the forthcoming general elections, assuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC leadership, Governor of Lagos State, and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of their commitment to delivering overwhelming votes for the party at all levels.

They called on party members to remain united and focus on the success of the APC, while expressing gratitude to the party leadership for what they described as a decision that reflects the aspirations of grassroots members and promotes inclusiveness within the party.