APC stakeholders back Ogun lawmaker’s fourth term bid

Members of the All Progressives Congress in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area have thrown their support behind the bid of Jemili Akingbade popularly known as Kowe, for a fourth term in the Ogun State House of Assembly.

This came as two aspirants for the assembly seat, Olalotan Olusegun and Aliu Onsa, jointly announced their decision to withdraw from the race.

Party members and stakeholders affirmed their support for Akingbade on Friday at the APC secretariat in Imeko-Afon, dismissing a communiqué reportedly issued earlier by some groups within the local government.

Olusegun and Onsa, while speaking during the endorsement, said their decision to step down was in deference to the position of the party leadership, which had picked the lawmaker as the consensus candidate.

Olusegun, a former chairman of the APC in the local government, said, “Myself and Hon. Aliu Onsa have decided to step down our ambition as loyal party members, with utmost respect for the collective decision of the party. The interest of the party must be respected and placed above personal interests.

“We are doing this in deference to the directive of the party’s apex leadership, which is aimed at promoting unity, fairness and strengthening the progressive forces of the party. We are saying that Hon. Jemili Akingbade should continue his good work beyond 2027.”

In a communiqué issued by the APC Ketu Zone and read at the event by Olusegun, the party stated that it had unanimously adopted the consensus reached by its state leaders, affirming Akingbade as the consensus candidate for the Imeko-Afon State Constituency seat in the Ogun State House of Assembly in 2027.

The communiqué read, “We fully support this step, as we strongly believe the decision was taken not only in the interest of unity of our dear party but also for the progress of Imeko-Afon Local Government Area.

“Hon. Jemili Akingbade, no doubt, is a loyal party man, a grassroots mobiliser with an unmatched sphere of influence, a bridge-builder with a verifiable record of community development, and above all, embodies the core values of the progressives and the party.

“His candidacy represents equity, competence, and the strategic interest of the APC to retain the constituency. Simply put, he is tested and trusted.”

The party directed all ward chairmen, executives, youth leaders, women leaders, and party faithful within the Ketu Zone of Imeko-Afon LGA to align with the resolution and commence mobilisation for Akingbade and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola ahead of the coming general elections.

While affirming its loyalty to Governor Dapo Abiodun and the state party chairman, Yemi Sanusi, the party also pledged support for the governorship ambition of Adeola, as well as the second-term bid of Gboyega Isiaka, who represents Imeko-Afon/Yewa North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The party chairman in the local government, Adebolu Rahman, commended the aspirants for their sacrifice, describing their decision as a demonstration of progressive leadership and commitment to the development of the Imeko-Afon State Constituency.