The sun was unforgiving, but the crowd at Amoo Field, Orile Agege, appeared unconcerned on Wednesday as colourful party vests, campaign songs, rhythmic chants and waving banners filled the venue during the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Agege campaign for the forthcoming general election.
At the centre of the gathering was the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and APC House of Representatives candidate for Agege Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, who used the rally to urge party supporters to convert Agege’s numbers into votes.
The rally attracted traditional and religious rulers, party leaders and loyalists, trade associations, artisans and representatives of non-Yoruba communities, while supporters displayed branded vests bearing the photographs of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos APC governorship candidate Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule and Obasa.
Addressing the crowd, Obasa urged party faithful to take the campaign beyond the rally ground and embark on door-to-door mobilisation across streets, markets, workshops, religious centres and community associations.
“Let us join hands and make sure we deliver. It is not just about victory; we must surpass our previous votes,” he told the cheering supporters.
Obasa also urged party members to spread the APC message among trade associations, artisans, tribes, religious and traditional leaders, stressing, “We have the numbers, and we will pour it into the APC.”
He called on supporters to mobilise votes for Tinubu, Hamzat, Adebule and himself, saying the party should not merely retain its political presence in Agege but improve on its previous electoral performance.
The Speaker also used the occasion to project unity within the APC in Agege, pointing to the turnout as evidence of continued cohesion in the party. “Agege is always one. And we will continue to be one. There is nothing wrong with our party in Agege,” he declared.
Responding to opposition voices and what he described as rumours surrounding the party, Obasa said: “There will always be detractors, but we will not listen to the din of the marketplace because no matter what you do, you will never be loved by the enemy.”
He, however, urged supporters to maintain peace as political activities intensify, saying voters should be allowed to freely choose their representatives. “We must try to avoid conflict, because at the end of the day, the people will vote for their representatives, the people they truly want. Nobody can force anyone on the people,” he said.
As the rally ended, chants and campaign songs continued amid the colourful display of party materials. For the APC in Agege, the gathering marked the beginning of a wider mobilisation effort, with the ultimate test expected at the polling units when the campaign trail gives way to voting.
