Lagos Political Shake-Up: Five Chairmen Lose Re-Election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) council election primary in Lagos State was filled with intrigue, suspense, and confusion. During the exercise, which took place across the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA), no fewer than five incumbent council chairs were unable to secure their second term ticket.

Young party members and former politicians running for the position for the first time defeated the council chairmen in their reelection campaign.

They came in second and much behind third in the exercise, according to the results counted inside the party secretariat in ACME, Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, and observed by our correspondent.

The incumbents in Coker Aguda, Agbado Oke-Odo, Onigbongbo, Ayobo Ipaja, and Eti-Osa were the impacted chairman.

Ladi Oluwaloni of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, who took over the leadership after the death of the previous Chairman, Bolanle Shobowale, lost to Agbaje Abiodun, an aspirant thought to have been favored by chieftain and former lawmaker Bisi Yusuf, while Rakiat Hassan of Onigbongbo LCDA lost to Moyo Adebanjo.

Rasak Olamilekan of Coker Aguda lost to Azeez Ogidan, while John Ogundare of Eti-Osa East LCDA lost to Samson Agunbiade, the previous chairman, while Jimoh Ishola of Agbado-Oke Odo LCDA selected the council ticket ahead of Oladapo Famuyiwa, the current chairman.

When it was all said and done, the council was the most dramatic, with Agunbiade making a comeback after losing to Ogundare in the last council election.

Former lawmakers who took part in the exercise for the 55 councils throughout the state had conflicting feelings, aside from the incumbent chairmen who lost.

Abiodun Akinola defeated Yinka Ogundimu, a former lawmaker who represented Agege in the State House of Assembly and sought to use the election to reintroduce himself into public office as Orile Agege LCDA.

Additionally, Ladi Balogun, the general manager of Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), lost to another candidate during the exercise despite trying to lead his council, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government.

To encourage the Badagry local government to achieve better growth, Babatunde Hunpe, a former member of the House of Representatives, was elected.

Announcing the winners after the process, Chairman of the party’s Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala, said four chairmanship candidates emerged through consensus while 51 others contested to emerge.

According to him ,candidates that emerged via consensus and were affirmed by their delegates are Mr Isa Jubril (Iba LCDA),Mrs Motunrayo Gbadebo (Ijede LCDA), Mr Rasaq Kasali (Lekki LCDA) and Mr Azeez Kareem(Otto Awori LCDA)

Ogala declared Usman Hamzat as the elected candidate for Ifako-Ijaiye LG and Mr Hameed Aroyehun for Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Oluyemisi Rosiji (Ojokoro LCDA); Moyosore Ogunlewe (Kosofe LG); Olufemi Okeowo (Ifelodun LCDA); Olamilekan Akindipe (Ajeromi Ifelodun LG) and Suleiman Yusuf (Surulere LG).

According to him , others who emerged are Azeez Ogidan (Coker Aguda LCDA) Tola Oyedele (Agboyi-Ketu LCDA); Taoreed Taiwo (Ejigbo LCDA),Muibi Alade (Lagos Island East) Sanusi Ismail (Amuwo-Odofin LG), Muibat Rufia (Ojo LG) and Taiwo Oyekan (Lagos Island LG).

He gave the other winners as Wale Hameed (Ikorodu North LG). Samsudeen Agunbiade (Eti-Osa East LG); Humpey Babatunde (Badadry); Sura Animashaun (Epe LG); Adebayo Olasoju (Isolo LCDA); and Sesan Olowa (Ibeju-Lekki LCDA).

Wale Alomo (Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA); Rauf Ibrahim (Badagry West LCDA); Adedayo Ladega (Ikorodu LG); Rasak Oloyede (Oriade LCDA); Abiodun Akinola (Orile Agege LCDA) and Lateef Ashimin (Somolu),Bolanle Bada (Ikosi-Isheri LCDA); Kehinde Oloyede (Oshodi-Isolo LG); and Sunday Benson (Imota LCDA); and Kazeem Sulaiman (Ikorodu West LCDA) were also announced as winners.

Shobanjo Idowu (Apapa); Peter Ajose (Olorunda LCDA); Monsuru Ismail (Eredo LCDA); Opeyemi Akindele (Mosan Okunola LCDA), Abiodun Agbaje (Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA); Ibrahim Akinpelu (Alimosho LG); and Jimoh Olawale (Apapa Iganmu), Bukola Omofe (Bariga LCDA); Tunbosun Aruwe (Mushin LG); Olusegun Odunmbaku (Ojodu); Idris Balogun (Egbe- Idimu); Lasisi Akinsanya (Ikotun-Igando LCDA); Akeem Dauda (Ikeja LG) and Lawal Jakande (Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA) also emerged.

Other elected party flag bearers are Bola Oladunjoye (Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA);Moyo Adebanjo (Onigbongbo LCDA); Adeola Sheriff (Eti-Osa LCDA), Babatunde Azeez (Agege LG); and Aminat Alabi (Iru/Victoria Island LCDA)Daniel Olufemi (Itire Ikate LCDA) and Jimoh Ishola declared winners for Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA.

It was learnt that some aspirants and their agents protested the outcomes of the primaries for some LGs

Ogala, who admitted that there might be a few human errors, urged the aggrieved aspirants to exercise their right to appeal after the exercise.

He said that the decision of the committee could be overturned by the APC Appeal Committee if confronted with facts.

Commending the delegates for patience and cooperation ,Ogala said the exercise was transparent and was done in the interest of the party.