Mandate Movement Throws Weight Behind Alakija in Lagos APC Assembly Ticket Tussle

A faction of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, led by Dele Ogunsakin, has given its full backing to Mayowa Alakija as the party's candidate for the state House of Assembly in the 2027 general election. The group, known as the Mandate Movement bloc, insisted that the primary election which produced Alakija was conducted in a free and fair manner, contrary to claims of irregularities. The controversy surrounding the primary election has been ongoing, with some members of the party staging protests at the state secretariat over alleged manipulation of the process. However, Ogunsakin maintained that Alakija emerged victorious in the direct primary election, polling 10,514 votes to defeat the incumbent lawmaker, Stephen Ogundipe, who secured 1,737 votes. According to Ogunsakin, the election was conducted across all five wards of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I, with the presence of ward chairmen and other party officials serving as proof of the exercise's legitimacy. He described claims that Alakija did not win the primary as 'a fabrication' and 'a deliberate lie', stating that the outcome of the election is irreversible and that Alakija enjoys the support of key stakeholders in the constituency, including local government chairmen, councillors, and political appointees. Ogunsakin called on Ogundipe to accept the outcome of the election and move on, saying that continuing to contest the result through falsehood would serve no purpose and would not change the outcome. The Mandate Movement leader emphasized that the democratic door remains open for those who honour democratic outcomes, but urged Ogundipe to accept the verdict of the party members and allow the people of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I to move forward united.