Honourable Jubreel Abdulkareem, an APC Chieftain and Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, offered insights into the issues surrounding the Presidential election in Lagos, stating that the victory was not solely attributed to the Labour Party but rather stemmed from internal discord within the APC. He noted that the initial election outcome reflected public discontent due to internal conflicts within the party.
Abdulkareem stated that the party leaders recognized the necessity for internal cohesion and promptly convened to address grievances and reconcile differences. He emphasized that the subsequent election results demonstrated the party's ability to resolve internal disputes and regain collective focus, leading to a more unified front in subsequent electoral contests.
In the 2023 election campaign, the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, attracted young people and urban voters who were disillusioned with Nigerian politics. Obi secured the most votes in the commercial hub of Lagos State, narrowly surpassing Bola Ahmed Tinubu's tally.
Abdulkareem emphasized in an interview with THE SUN that the victory in Lagos was not solely due to the Labour Party's appeal but rather a result of internal strife within the APC. He highlighted the party's concerted efforts to address internal disagreements and restore unity, which ultimately influenced the election outcome in their favor. He explained that internal discord within the APC led some members to withhold support, affecting the party's performance in the initial election. However, concerted efforts to resolve differences and foster unity among party members contributed to a notable turnaround in subsequent electoral contests.
Hear him: ''For me, it was not Labour Party that won the election in Lagos, it was because of a wrangling in the APC. And having been the first election, people showed their displeasure based on what was happening. But immediately after we saw what happened, we were back to the drawing board to ensure that we managed ourselves properly. We kind of called a family meeting and appealed to the aggrieved people and we could see that the table turned by the next election.So, it was not the opposition, it was with ourselves. For example, one way or the other if you are not concurring with what I'm doing you feel that I did not listen to you, okay fine! I will withdraw my support from my people there and they will realize that from my own end, I didn't do what I was supposed to do. And from there everybody will realize that we must all be on one page. That was what happened.''