AGAIE -LAPAI TICKET: AZZA COMMUNITY APPEALS FOR ZONING TO LAPAI SOUTH

The Azza Concerned Citizens Political Consultative Forum of Lapai Local Government Area in Niger State has called on the National and State Working Committees of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the party’s ticket for the Agaie–Lapai Federal Constituency seat to Lapai ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The appeal was made yesterday in Minna during a press conference addressed by the Chairman of the Forum, Ndatsu Yahaya Kandi, who stressed the need for fairness, rotation, and balanced representation within the constituency.

He noted that since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, political leadership in the Agaie–Lapai Federal Constituency was expected to be guided by an informal understanding of zoning and rotation between the local government areas that make up the constituency. According to him, such an arrangement would have promoted harmony, inclusion, and political cooperation.

“However, the expectation has not aligned with reality in terms of leadership in Agaie–Lapai Federal Constituency from 1999 to 2023,” he said.

Kandi recalled that since 1999, Agaie Local Government has held the federal constituency seat for five consecutive terms, totaling about 20 years, while Lapai has occupied the position for only about eight years. He described this as “clear injustice” against Lapai LGA, which he said requires urgent reflection and corrective action.

On this basis, the Forum called for the zoning of the 2027 ticket to Lapai, particularly to the southern part of the local government area. Kandi further appealed to stakeholders in Lapai North to support Lapai South (Azza community) in producing the next representative.

He explained that on two separate occasions, candidates from Lapai South were unable to complete a second term, as the seat was lost to Agaie Local Government Area under both PDP and APC administrations. This, he said, had denied Lapai South the opportunity for full representation.

While acknowledging that Lapai North has produced leaders who served two full terms in the Senate, Kandi insisted that it was now time for Lapai South to be given a fair opportunity to occupy the Agaie–Lapai Federal Constituency seat.

The Forum also urged the people of Agaie to demonstrate statesmanship by supporting the return of the ticket to Lapai, especially its southern axis.

In his remarks, Kandi expressed appreciation to the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, for his developmental strides in the Agaie–Lapai Federal Constituency, particularly the ongoing 52km Gulu–Evuti–Gupa–Lambata road project.

He also commended the Governor’s commitment to a peaceful, transparent, and inclusive process for candidate emergence, whether through consensus or party primaries, as may be decided.