Joe Igbokwe declares that Lagos Igbos will vote en masse for the APC in next year's governorship elections

IGBO Lagosians have come out to declare that they will support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year's gubernatorial elections because the party offers them a great and bright future in the state.

Next February's elections are expected to be particularly tight in Lagos as the APC's Babajide Sanwoolu  takes on former aspirant Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Calling on Ndigbo to support the APC, a grouping known as  Igbo Leaders In APC, regretted the activities of some elements from the southeast, who it said have commercialised political participation to make money from party candidates.

Urging the various parties and Lagosians to be wary of their fraudulent activities, the group said Ndigbo In APC is the authentic, legitimate and united leadership structure coordinating the activities of southeast indigenes in the ruling party. Led by Joe Igbokwe, the publicity secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the APC, the group claimed it is the symbol of Igbo unity in Lagos APC, adding that anybody working outside it should be ignored.

Its other members include Oby Onu, Jude Idimogu, Chief Chris Ekwilo, Eze Uche Dimgba, Chief Eze Nwachukwu, Chief Baba Tata, Dr Mordi, James Uche Ugwu and Uya Smart. Mr Idimogu said that the Igbo in Lagos have a great future under the APC administration, adding that the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is a promise keeper and a man of integrity.

Mr Igbokwe added: "Our group will refurbish, reposition, reorganise and rejig the Igbo in Lagos politics. We have noticed that all manners of people gather themselves every election year to extort money from the state, promising to deliver Igbo votes to our party in Lagos and over the years, we have noticed that these people are funny characters, fraudsters, interlopers and political entrepreneurs whose aim is to make money and nothing more.

“They swindle our leaders every election year and while they enjoy their loot every election year, the real people who work and vote for our party are left with nothing. While the real party men and women work tirelessly to lift up, these political traders abandon their shops to reap where they did not sow.”

He added that the group had reported the activities of these unscrupulous elements to Asiwaju Tinubu, the Lagos State APC governorship candidate Babajide Sanwoolu, and the party chairman of the party, Alhaji Tunde Balogun. According to Mr Igbokwe, his association will work to carry all Igbos along as they seek victory for the APC in Lagos.

“We are, therefore, asking APC leaders in Lagos to see this body as the final bus stop for the Igbo in Lagos APC. It is our wish that, henceforth, all matters pertaining to the Ndigbo in Lagos APC will be routed through this body," Mr Igbokwe added.