Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege, Lagos, have dismissed concerns that the defection of two former House of Assembly aspirants to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) could affect the party’s electoral strength.

The stakeholders, led by a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Oluyinka Ogundimu, were reacting to the defection of the immediate past Chairman of Agege Local Government, Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi, and Azeez Yusuf.

The two politicians have secured APM tickets to contest the Agege State Constituency I and II seats respectively in the forthcoming general elections.

Ogundimu said the defections would not negatively affect the APC, assuring the party leadership that members would mobilise support for its candidates at the polls.

The stakeholders reaffirmed their support for the APC candidates in Agege, Oluwagbenga Michael Abiola for Constituency I and Shakiru Enimakure for Constituency II.

They also pledged support for the party’s other candidates, including President Bola Tinubu, Lagos Deputy Governor Kadir Hamzat, Senator Idiat Adebule and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.

The group said the defections did not come as a surprise, claiming that reports of the politicians’ intention to leave the party had circulated in the area.

However, the stakeholders urged the Lagos State APC leadership to investigate the circumstances surrounding the defections and take appropriate disciplinary measures where necessary.

They also called for the conclusion of pending reconciliation and harmonisation processes involving unresolved party structures in Agege Local Government and the Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area.

The stakeholders warned that failure to resolve the internal issues could create opportunities for opposition parties.

They further called for action over what they described as disrespect towards the state governor and party leadership, particularly concerning supervisors who were yet to be sworn in.

The group also urged the party leadership to identify members who had defected or were allegedly involved with the defectors and remove them from leadership structures and the planning and execution of the 2027 elections.

The stakeholders said they remained confident in the Lagos State APC leadership and expected appropriate action on their demands.