Admin I Thursday, May 08, 2025
LAGOS, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been tasked to allow democracy to thrive in the ongoing local government election in Lagos State, particularly in Ikeja Local Government Area, where Hon. Abiodun Faleke is poised to impose his anointed candidate.
Making the call was the League of Lagos Democrats (LLD) at a press conference held today at the Bar Centre of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) building, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the association, the Convener, Dr. Babatunde Adebisi, urged President Tinubu to call Hon Faleke to order and allow people to make their choice at the grassroots level
Specifically, Adebisi said Hon Faleke’s move will destroy the novel idea of President Tinubu in making the people at the grassroots beneficiaries of the dividends of democracy.
He strongly condemned the move being made by Hon Faleke, who is currently a member of the House of Representatives, to impose his choice on the people, stressing that he intended to confuse Ikeja electorate by sponsoring three candidates.
According to LLD, two of the candidates Hon Faleke is sponsoring including Edward Arogbonfo and Omotayo Aderinola, are unknown to the leadership of the party in the local government.
Dr Adebisii said though Akeem Daduda is the preferred choice of Hon Faleke, he however opined that the way out will be to allow the people to feel the impact of the reforms initiated by President Tinubu at local government level by providing a level playing field for all aspirants to participate in a free and fair election.
The movement said anything contrary to this will negate the position of the party arrived during a stakeholders meeting at the party state secretariat on Acme Road two days ago.
“As concerned citizens of Lagos State, we have watched the undemocratic imposition of candidates for the post of local government council across the state against democratic principles and practices laid down by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The reason why we are saying this is that we want to stop the imposition of candidates in Ikeja Local Government Area, a development which directly affects Mr President. It is the local government council of Mr. President, and if imposition succeeds in Ikeja, it means President Tinubu is complicit in the imposition scheme of Abiodun Faleke in his council.
“We are fully aware that Hon Faleke is using the name of President Tinubu to perpetrate his imposition scheme, that is why we are directly calling on him to stop this so that the votes of the electorate will count at the grassroots.
“Without much ado, we are rejecting the imposition of candidates at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu local government. We want an election where all candidates will be given the opportunity to participate in a free and fair election. We reject Abiodun Faleke’s imposition agenda and call on him to allow a level playing field for all candidates,”
