Tinubu Lost Lagos In 2023 Despite APC Control – Aregbesola
Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said the result of the 2023 presidential election in Lagos showed that control of state governments does not guarantee electoral victory.
According to him, the Lagos outcome debunked the belief that governors can deliver votes against the will of the people, noting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost the state despite its dominance across the South-West at the time.
His comments come amid a wave of defections by governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The defecting governors include Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau. Several lawmakers, former governors, ex-ministers and party leaders have also crossed over to the ruling party.
Reacting to claims that the defections point to a one-party state, Aregbesola, who left the APC for the ADC last year, urged the ruling party to ensure that the 2027 elections are free, fair and credible.
“Something is going on that is worrisome, especially for those of us who are democrats,” he said.
“The belief that governors can win elections against the will of the people is not supported by the last election.”
He noted that although the APC controlled almost all the South-West states, its maximum performance was about 55 per cent, with other parties sharing the rest.
“The same thing happened in Lagos. The APC candidate lost his ward, local government and the state,” Aregbesola said.
He added that the party secured only about 5.8 per cent of the total votes from the South-East.
“These results clearly show that governors do not win elections — the people do,” he stressed.
According to him, what matters most is the commitment of those in charge of elections to conduct a free and fair process.
“Commit yourself to a free and fair election, and let us see what the result will be,” he added.