Stakeholders of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in Ido local government area of Oyo State have expressed strong displeasure over an alleged attempt to alter the outcome of the party’s consensus arrangement and replace the name of Honourable Abdulrazak Mabaje, who was unanimously endorsed by stakeholders as the party’s chairmanship candidate for the forthcoming local government election.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Ibadan, the stakeholders described the alleged development as an unacceptable attempt to undermine the collective decision reached after extensive consultations among party leaders, delegates and other critical stakeholders in the local government.
According to the stakeholders, the consensus process was conducted in accordance with the wishes of the party’s local government structure, culminating in the emergence of Mabaje, saying that the decision was not that of an individual but the product of broad consultations and a collective resolution reached in the interest of the party and the local government.
They alleged that individuals with vested political interests hiding behind the veil of being Gov Seyi Makinde’s appointees are attempting to manipulate the process by changing the name of the candidate already endorsed by the stakeholders.
The stakeholders, however, insisted that such an alleged move would amount to disregarding the will of the people who participated in the consensus process.
The aggrieved stakeholders maintained that the decision reached by the Ido Local Government stakeholders must stand, warning that any attempt to impose a different candidate against the agreed consensus could generate unnecessary tension, distrust and division within the local government.
They appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently intervene and ensure that the collective decision of the stakeholders is respected. According to them, the Governor’s intervention is necessary not only to protect the integrity of the process but also to prevent a disagreement over the chairmanship ticket from degenerating into a wider political crisis in Ido.
The stakeholders stressed that what Ido Local Government needs at this critical period is unity, fairness and cohesion, rather than actions capable of creating factions and weakening the party’s grassroots structure.
They further warned that internal disagreements and perceived imposition could have consequences beyond the forthcoming local government election, particularly as political parties are already positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We have followed the process and made our decision. The consensus was reached by the stakeholders of Ido Local Government, and that decision should be respected. Nobody should be allowed to manipulate the process or substitute the choice of the stakeholders for personal or political interests,” the stakeholders maintained.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV