It is no longer news that there is a looming political implosion brewing in the Agege area of Lagos state. For the past one week, a wave of political tension has been sweeping through Agege Local Government Area following reports that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has directed all chairmanship aspirants under the All Progressives Congress (APC) to step down for his son, Abdulganiyu Obasa.
At a closed-door meeting held on Sunday with party leaders and key stakeholders, the Speaker reportedly informed attendees that his son, Abdulganiyu, would be the sole contender for the council chairmanship position in the upcoming July 12, 2025 election. The announcement has sparked discontent among other aspirants, many of whom had already begun mobilizing support and raising funds for their campaigns.
According to sources at the meeting, the Speaker Obasa categorically instructed all other aspirants to suspend their political activities and avoid any public declarations, including campaign posters or formal announcements, until further notice from the party leadership.
City People found out that every single aspirant obeyed their leader, Obasa’s instruction. That has been the standard within the political system, you obey your leaders with very minimal questions asked. However, just days after the meeting, posters of Abdulganiyu Obasa surfaced on various social media platforms, sparking outrage among party members who viewed it as a strategic move to cement political control within the Obasa family.
“He told everyone to keep things quiet and wait for the party’s decision, but his son’s posters are everywhere,” a visibly frustrated party leader said. “It’s clear there’s no level playing field. This is not democracy; it’s imposition.”
Critics have also raised concerns about Abdulganiyu’s political experience, pointing out that he has rarely participated in local ward meetings or contributed meaningfully to grassroots party activities. The development has reportedly dashed the hopes of many long-serving APC members, including the incumbent Vice Chairman of the council, Oluwagbenga Abiola, popularly known as Agbelebu, who was widely considered a top contender for the chairmanship seat. And reports reaching City People indicate that Agbelebu is not ready to roll over and allow Obasa’ son ride roughshod all over him.
According to political observers within the Agege axis, Agbelebu has paid his dues. If anyone deserves to be the next Agege local government chairman, he is the one. Oluweagbenga Abiola diligently served his outgoing principal, Egunjobi. He has been part of the grassroots politics in Agege and part of those who have made sacrifices to push things to where they are today in Agege.
City People spoke to some supporters of Agbelebu over the telephone. They are threatening fire and brimstone over the matter.
“It is not fair, we will fight this one to the very end!” one of them spoke with conviction in his voice. “How can we serve the father and still be asked to serve the son? Why is it now that it’s Agbelebu’s turn to become chairman that Obasa is doing all these nonsense? Whoever knows him should go and tell him, Agbelebu is not stepping down for anybody, it is fight to finish!”
When asked what the plans of the vice chairman is to ensure he picks the nomination ticket for the party and not Obasa’s son, Abdulganiyu, he responded, “We have had a meeting with the elders, the leaders of Agege, and they are assuring us that all will be well and everything will be sorted out. We have another meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) and we are determined that, nobody what they tell us, we will not let this injustice fly!”
Another senior party figure who spoke under anonymity accused Speaker Obasa of sidelining dedicated and experienced party loyalists in favour of personal interests. “We’ve worked for this party for years. It’s unfair to be pushed aside like this,” he said.
The growing discontent within the Agege APC is raising concerns about internal unity ahead of the local government elections. Some members fear that the development could trigger defections or a loss of public support if not properly managed.
As a matter of seriousness, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Stakeholders in Agege Local Government Area have written to President Bola Tinubu over alleged plot by Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to impose his Son, Abdulganiyu Obasa, as the next Chairman of Agege Local Government.
As the tenure of Jelili Egunjobi, incumbent Chairman of the Local Government, is coming to an end in a few months, many aspirants are jostling to get the APC Chairmanship ticket ahead of the LG Election.
The Stakeholders stated that Abdulganiyu Obasa is a political novice and paperweight, who remains unknown to the Local Party base and lacks any previous political experience or exposure.
They added that Abdulganiyu has no political antecedent. His sole hope is that his father will subvert the system in his favour.
The Agege Stakeholders stated that it is not acceptable, stressing that the push back from loyal and long suffering party members may degenerate into unnecessary and consequencial crises in the LG.
In a letter to President Tinubu by the Stakeholders titled, “AN OPEN LETTER OF CONCERN TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU AND THE LEADERSHIP OF ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS IN LAGOS STATE”, signed by President of Agege Political Stakeholders Group, Moshood Oguntuase, on behalf of the Group said that the reckless decision by Obasa is unpopular and prominent stakeholders are already dissociating themselves from it.
They added that Obasa’s ingratitude and impunity is provocative and repugnant to the omoluabi ethos and moral code of decent Agege folks, urging President Tinubu to sanction Obasa.
“The Youths and other critical stakeholder of APC in Agege Local Government and beyond are determined to stand strong and to stand tall and ensure that new faces are given the opportunity to contest, emerge and contribute their quota to society via a level playing field and transparent primaries. This is the crux of the matter.
“Your Excellency, Mr President, we the Concerned Citizens of Agege with deep humility and utmost respect hereby appeal for your firm intervention in this critical matter. Your love for Youths and humanity including the capacity to transform them into great leaders is not in doubt. Hence our abiding resolve to remain your critical foot soldiers anytime and anywhere, always standing on your sacred mandate. Sir, we are grateful for your timely intervention”.
It would be recalled that Obasa was enmeshed in crisis with his fellow Lawmakers in the Assembly leading to his removal as Speaker on January 13th, 2025.
He was accused of Gross Misconduct, high handedness, abuse of power and financial misappropriation.
The intervention of President Tinubu led to his reinstatement as Speaker of LAHA, but nothing has been the same in the Assembly since his reinstatement.
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