Some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ikeja Federal Constituency, Lagos State on Monday staged a peaceful protest against the re-election of Rep. James Faleke.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Faleke, member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is positioning himself for re-election in 2019 elections.
The federal lawmaker had on 2016 gone to contest the deputy governorship seat in Kogi, his state of origin.
The protesters, who chanted different solidarity songs against the two-term member of the House of Representatives, said he had not represented the constituency well.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Faleke, go back to Kogi, Ikeja says no to you”, “90 Shops in Kogi, Go back to your Kogi”.
Others read: “16 years of representing Ikeja with no constituency benefit”, “Dear Tinubu, the People of Ikeja, Ojodu, and Onigbongbo say no to Faleke” among others.
One of the leaders of the protesters, Solomon Johnson, said there were so many capable and vibrant youths, men and women that could represent the constituency.
Johnson, a leader in Ikeja APC, said the protest was to tell the leadership of the party that the residents would not support the re-election of Faleke to the House of Representatives.
“He has been in power in the last 18 years and we felt he has done enough,” Johnson said.
According to him, since the lawmaker has gone to contest as the Kogi State Deputy Governorship candidate in 2016, the legislative seat should be given to another individual in the person of Toke Benson.
Johnson urged Faleke to concentrate on strengthening the APC in Kogi State rather than seek re-election by transferring his voter register back to Lagos.
He said: “It will be a slap on on the people of Ikeja Federal Constituency if Faleke is forced on residents.
“We have able youths that can represent the constituency and we have found Mrs. Toke Benson.
“Since the party is interested in promoting women participation, Toke Benson is qualified.
“She is a lawyer and well known.
“Enough of impunity.
“Give us Toke Benson and we will deliver Ikeja for APC.”
Another leader of the protesters, Hope James, said: “The entire people of Ikeja want a change.
“The attention of Faleke has been in Kogi.
“Our people have not been benefiting from that office.”
James, one of the APC stalwarts from Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, alleged that the lawmaker had not been representing the constituency well.
The party loyalist alleged that the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had told the lawmaker to remain in Kogi State, saying that Faleke should give a chance to another person.
Also, Priscilla Odoh, a former auditor of APC in the LCDA, who noted that the representative had been in office for 18 good years, said there was a need to allow other people to grow.
According to her, the representative has not been carrying people along but only works with a few set of people.
Odoh said she would support the ambition of Benson, an aspirant for the seat because she has listening ears and would carry everyone along.
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