The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected claims by former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola that defections of governors to the party would not influence the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued by the party’s spokesperson, Oladejo Seye, the APC described Aregbesola’s remarks as misleading and aimed at amplifying what it termed the opposition’s “academic victory” in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election.
The party said it was necessary to set the record straight and address what it called sweeping conclusions and omissions in Aregbesola’s comments. According to the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not emerge as president by chance but through the formation of a broad national coalition, securing the required constitutional spread and winning support across different regions of the country.
The statement stressed that presidential elections are decided at the national level and not by results from a single state, regardless of its symbolic importance. The party argued that suggesting otherwise reflects either a misunderstanding of electoral dynamics or an attempt to mislead the public.
The APC further maintained that the opposition’s win in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election was short-lived and had no impact on the overall national outcome. It noted that Lagos voters subsequently returned the APC to power in the governorship election and that the party also recorded landslide victories in off-season bye-elections across the state.
According to the APC, these outcomes demonstrate the party’s continued dominance, organisational strength, and grassroots support in Lagos. The party added that the Lagos presidential election results ultimately strengthened President Tinubu’s democratic credentials, as they showed that an opposition candidate could win in a state governed by his party—an indication of electoral integrity and respect for democratic principles under his leadership.