APC Members In Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency Protest Alleged Imposition Of Candidate

The candidature of Hon Lekan Afolabi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ifelodun/Boripe-Odo-Otin Federal Constituency is causing ripples in the three local governments that formed the constituency as members of the party have rejected the decision of the APC leaders.

Scores of the members of the ruling APC in Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo-Otin Local Governments had on Wednesday thronged the city of Ikirun, the headquarters of Ifelodun local government to protest the alleged imposition of Afolabi by the party leaders.

The protesters armed themselves with the placards with the inscription; Hon.Lekan voted and worked for ADP In the last Election, Don’t wastes our vote in APC, Moshood Adekunle is the Answer ,among others.

The aggrieved members of the party who expressed displeasure over Afolabi’s candidature threatening not work for him for the 2019 general election.

The protesting APC members declared that “they cannot vote for a candidate that worked for the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the September 22, governorship election.”

They affirmed that the only way to defeat the opposition party come 2019 was for the party to reverse its decision and give the ticket back to Hon Moshood Adekunle Oluawo whom they said had work tirelessly for the party.

Speaking, Mrs Iyabo Oyetunji, APC leader in Ifelodun local government described the decision of the leadership of the party as uncalled for, adding that they would use everything with their reach to people’s wish come to pass.

Mrs Oyetunji who expressed bitterness over the development said it amounted to rewarding disloyalty for the APC leaders to settle for Afolabi for the party’s ticket for House of Representatives, stating that they were not comfortable with the decision of the party leaders.

Echoing a similar view, Mr Joseph Adeyemi said the party will lose the House of Representatives election if it did not rescind its decision on Afolabi’s candidature.

The Odo-otin born politician said “Hon Lekan Afolabi does not deserve the APC ticket. He did not participate in the governorship campaign. He stayed aloof throughout the campaign.

According to him “He voted for ADP on September 22 governorship election. We got to know this when he wanted to drop his ballot paper in the box and it was blew away by air.

“Up till now, he has not talked to any APC leader or member in Ikirun and Ifelodun local government at large. Since he was declared the candidate, he has not been talking to anybody outside the camp that worked for the ADP in the election.

Also speaking, Mr Adebisi Gbolagade, former Chairman of APC , Ifelodun local government said the decision of the party members to stage a peaceful protest was to register their grievances on the alleged imposition of Afolabi.

“Lekan Afolabi is a confirmed ADP Member because he was no where to be found during the September 22 governorship elections.

“Those who worked for the party are not happy about the imposition because they struggle for the vote of the incoming Governor, Alhaji Gboyega oyetola. We are not going to decamp if they insisted on Afolabi but many of us will not vote during the election.

“The question is, if APC had lost the governorship election, would he has the opportunity of contesting under the same platform? Afolabi is no longer an APC member, and should not be given any opportunity in the party. And as a member of the party, we cannot vote for somebody that worked for ADP.”