2027: APC Leaders Beg Lawmaker to Accept Defeat After Losing Primary Election

Leaders of the Mandate Movement in Oshodi/Isolo have called on a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, to accept the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election after losing his bid to secure the party’s ticket for the 2027 polls.

The appeal was made during a gathering of party leaders, members and stakeholders in Lagos, where the group insisted that the primary election was conducted fairly and reflected the wishes of party members across the constituency.

Speaking on behalf of the movement, the apex leader of the group in Oshodi/Isolo, Chief Dele Ogunsakin, said the exercise produced a clear winner in Hon. Mayowa Alakija, who secured 10,514 votes from delegates. According to him, Ogundipe polled 1,737 votes.

Ogunsakin said the leadership of the movement was surprised by claims circulating on social media suggesting that Ogundipe emerged victorious in the contest.

He accused some supporters of the lawmaker of spreading misleading information about the outcome of the election despite what he described as a transparent and competitive process.

“The Oshodi Mandate Movement addresses this press conference, the members of the All Progressives Congress, party stakeholders, and the general public today with one objective: to place the facts on record and put an end to the orchestrated campaign of falsehood, distortion, and political mischief being promoted by a minority faction that lost a democratic contest and has refused to accept the verdict of party members.

Hon. Mayowa Alakija won by a wide and unambiguous margin across all five wards of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1. The election was keenly contested in every ward. It was not a walkover. It was not a manipulation. It was a democratic verdict, delivered by card-carrying APC members of this constituency 1 with clarity and conviction.”

The APC chieftain maintained that the result reflected the collective decision of party members and should be respected by all aspirants who participated in the process.

He noted that Ogundipe, being a long-standing member of the political family, was expected to demonstrate maturity and commitment to party unity by accepting the outcome.

Ogunsakin stressed that internal party contests should not be treated as a do-or-die affair, adding that disagreements arising from primary elections must be handled in a manner that preserves the stability of the party ahead of the general election.

Addressing the lawmaker directly, he said:

“We address Otunba Stephen Olukayode Ogundipe with the directness this moment demands and the respect for his years of political service command.

“The 2026 APC primary election has been conducted. Its results are documented. Its outcome is irreversible. The APC members of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I have spoken with unmistakable clarity. They have chosen Hon. Mayowa Alakija to carry the party’s flag into the general election — and no volume of disinformation, no parade of phantom results, and no manufactured petition will alter that democratic verdict.

“Continuing to contest this outcome through falsehood serves no constructive purpose. It does not change the result. It does not advance Oshodi’s interests. And it does not serve the legacy of a man who represents a constituency.”

The Mandate Movement leader further urged the lawmaker and his supporters to put the contest behind them and work with other party members to strengthen the APC’s chances in future elections.

He said political opportunities remain available within the democratic process and advised aggrieved aspirants not to allow temporary setbacks to create divisions within the party.

Ogunsakin added that unity among members would be crucial as the APC prepares for upcoming electoral contests, stressing that internal cohesion remains one of the party’s greatest strengths.

He appealed to all stakeholders in Oshodi/Isolo Constituency I to rally behind the party’s candidate and focus on delivering victory for the APC rather than prolonging disputes arising from the primary election.

“Four years is not forever. The democratic door remains open — but only for those who honour democratic outcomes,” he said.