Lagos APC fires back at Aregbesola, defends Tinubu’s 2023 victory, party dominance

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed recent comments credited to former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in which he argued that governors’ defections would not determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections and cited the opposition’s performance in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election as evidence.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Lagos APC Spokesman, Seye Oladejo, said Aregbesola’s remarks were marked by “sweeping conclusions, convenient omissions and misleading interpretations” of electoral realities.

The party stressed that presidential elections in Nigeria are decided at the national level and not by the outcome in any single state, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election was achieved through a broad national coalition, constitutional spread and support across diverse regions of the country.

According to the Lagos APC, the opposition’s win in Lagos during the presidential election was short-lived and did not translate into sustained political control.

The party recalled that only weeks later, Lagos voters returned the APC to power in the governorship election, while subsequent bye-elections across the state also produced victories for the ruling party, reinforcing its dominance and grassroots strength.

The Lagos APC further argued that the outcome of the presidential election in the state underscored President Tinubu’s commitment to democratic values, noting that the ability of an opposition candidate to win in a state governed by his party reflected the credibility of the electoral process.

On the issue of defections, the party maintained that electoral victories are driven by performance, leadership, structure and a compelling vision, rather than defections alone. It described recent defections to the APC as a reaction to what it termed the opposition’s lack of coherence, ideology and direction.

The Lagos APC also accused the opposition of panic and denial in response to the growing wave of defections, insisting that the ruling party remains confident of victory in 2027. It added that attempts by some individuals to downplay President Tinubu’s political influence, despite having benefited from his political platform in the past, would not alter historical realities.

The party said it remains focused on governance, economic reforms and national stability as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace, urging political actors to engage Nigerians with concrete ideas and verifiable records rather than rhetoric.