As the tenure of the current local government administration winds down, tension is building across Lagos State political landscape.
The race to occupy chairmanship and councillorship positions in the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) has thrown political parties, aspirants, and their sponsors into frenzy.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) recently issued the official Notice of Election, setting July 12, 2025, as the date for the polls, with a possible re-run slated for July 19.
Some party faithful are worried over the return of what they described as ‘Baba Sope’ politics.
Baba Sope is imposition of candidates in local parlance.
Accusations of political godfatherism and imposition within the APC reached a head following the endorsement of Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, son of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, for chairmanship of Agege LGA.
The endorsement triggered protests, particularly in Ojokoro LCDA, where angry party members and youths disrupted a stakeholders’ meeting over what they described as an attempt to impose an outsider.
Placards with messages like, ‘Obasa should not impose a chairman on us from Agege’, and, ‘You can’t bring a stranger to lead us’, reflected the deep resentment among the party supporters.
“We reject any attempt to sideline loyal party members who have served this council,” said Mr. Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye, one of the protest leaders. “Let everyone test their strength at the primaries.”
Similarly, Mrs. Bola Ojetayo, another protester, decried what she termed the commercialization of leadership: “A stranger should not come to our home and be allowed to lead us”.
Despite the uproar, Mr. Oluwagbenga Abiola, the sitting Vice Chairman of Agege LG, stepped down and endorsed the younger Obasa, citing party loyalty and political mentorship under the Speaker.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has reportedly nullified the endorsement of Obasa’s son by APC chieftains in Agege, ordering the Speaker to pull out his son, Abdul-Ganiyu, from the race for Chairman of Agege Local Government
