Political stakeholders across party lines from Kogi State and Yagba Federal Constituency, in particular, have called on member representing Yagba Federal Constituency, Elder Leke Abejide to leave his current party, African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They made the call during a political meeting in Lokoja on Friday called by Yagba Progressives Forum (YPF).
The Chief of Staff to Elder Leke Abejide, Chief Shola Adebola, during his opening remark, said there has been calls across board on the rep member to move to the ruling party.
The local government chairmen of Yagba West, Yagba East, and Mopamuro, Hon. Tosin Olokun, Dare Joseph, and Ademola Bello respectively in their speeches unanimously agreed that Elder Leke Abejide has promised to look into their please for him to move to the APC and the time is now right for him to do so.
Hon. Ruben Atteh, the APC Chairman of Yagba East Local Government, also said the APC can’t wait to have Elder Leke Abejide, as they are tired of having him at the other side.
Comr. Hassan Oluwasegun Sherrifdeen, the President of Federation of Yagba Students (FYS) and Mrs. Ebun Joel who spoke on behalf of students and women respectively said they all recognyise Elder Leke Abejide’s effort in reaching out to them via various empowerment and palliatives; and believe his efforts will be more rewarding under the APC
The Convener of Yagba Progressives Forum, Barr. Bola Fabola, presented a communique the gathering adopted; which reads in part,
“We, The Yagba Progressives Group, conveyed this gathering to X-ray the political state of Yagba Federal Constituency vis a vis our representative, Elder Leke Abejide.
“Leadership, they say, is the ability to identify and deliver the interests of a person and/or group of people for a common cause. This is not far-fetched in the realities of political development in Kogi State and in Yagba West, Yagba East, and Mopamuro Federal Constituency as it concerns Rep. Leke Abejide.
“We observe the position of our representative at the House of Representatives, Hon. Leke Abejide, and pass a vote of confidence on him in view of his outstanding performance both on the floor and outside the National Assembly.
“We observe the impact his numerous empowerment schemes have on the constituents, notably the free-interest loan given to women across Yagba Fed constituency (as we speak capturing is ongoing in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Constituency.
“We applaud the recent flag off of road construction in the federal constituency (Igbagun to Isanlu, Makutu Road etc)
“He has influenced and personally sponsored roads rehabilitation and reconstruction and built a state -of -the -art ICT Facility, he intermittently provide food and clothings materials, he distributed working tools and equipment for artisans, he provides seedlings, farm tools and fertilizer for farmers, distributed SUVs and other cars for Royal fathers and others.
“We also observe his growing political acceptability at the national level.
“We also observed the growing concerns from political friends and associates and political actors at the top echelon, so we the constituents will benefit more if he is in the ruling party
“Elder Leke Abejide – a prominent political figure, not only in Kogi State, but in Nigeria as a whole. the representative of the people of Yagba Federal Constituency since 2019, an election he won on the ground that he identifies with the interest of the people, even on a self sponsored party
“Elder Leke Abejide, though a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but due to some political exigencies left the party and he won his elections (first and second terms) as House of Representatives member under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Maintaining his relationship with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Leke Abejide has always been delivering dividends of democracy to his constituents and constituency.
“Elder Leke Abejide, as a major supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 Presidential Election, also accepted to support Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo, who won the Kogi Gubernatorial election under the APC.
“Since the achievements of Elder Leke Abejide are not without his alliance with the APC, we pass a vote of confidence on his leadership.
“And we do here by recommend that he move back to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), where we believe he will be able to serve the people better. Our decision is also hinged on the fact that moving to APC will enable him to compliment the efforts of Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo in Kogi who is doing well as a governor and President Bola Tinubu at the Federal level as the President.
“All of these we have said in the interest of Yagba people as they strategically position themselves for political opportunities in the nearest future.”
