Ahead of the off-cycle election next month, the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders under the aegis of Progressives for Surulere (P4S) has raised an alarm over the planned imposition of a candidate to represent Surulere 1 Federal constituency in Lagos State.
The group also called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately call those involved in the plot to order as it was capable of causing the APC to lose the election.
The Progressives in a statement by its Secretary-General, Mr. Akin Jones Oladimeji, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, said it is common knowledge how “we virtually lost the House of Reps elections in Surulere 2 Federal constituency to opposition before getting them back after serious efforts”, adding that it took the support of President Tinubu to unite the divided camps to work together and win the election.
They also called on the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila and those allegedly involved in the plan to have a change of heart, warning that APC might lose the February 3 bye-election in Surulere 1 to the opposition, if those in involved goes ahead with their plan to impose a candidate that is not the popular choice of the people in the area.
The Progressives also expressed concern that at a recent public event during a visit to Lagos, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, publicly introduced the aspirant whom Hon Gbajabiamila is allegedly trying to impose as the chosen one.
The statement said, “Everything that APC stands for – progressive ideals, hope for the masses, social justice, morality in politics and departure from impunity – are all being called into question when both the former and current Speakers took turns in showing bias publicly even before the APC primaries in Surulere 1 Federal Constituency.”
The group said a viral video of Gbajabiamila’s endorsement of an unpopular aspirant shocked everyone on the streets of Surulere who knows that the popularity of at least two other APC aspirants – Kabir Caesar Lawal and Abdul Raheem, grassroots mobilizers – effectively drowns out any other names.
The group said they are happy that Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Governor ‘s Advisory Council (GAC), former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola who is a resident of Surulere and other APC elders in Lagos State have distanced themselves from any form of manipulation in the process and called on the President to act before it is too late.
They also said members of the opposition are already jubilating about the situation in Surulere, the more reason something serious should be done to block any opportunity that they might have on February 3.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
