Political Shake-Up: Drama and Upsets at APC Lagos Council Primaries

 By Sultan Oluwaseunayofunmi


The recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) council election primaries in Lagos State delivered a mix of suspense, drama, and political upheaval. Held across the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), the primaries saw no fewer than six incumbent council chairmen fail to secure a second term ticket—marking a significant shift in local party dynamics.

In what many have described as a surprising outcome, four of the incumbents were unseated by a mix of former lawmakers and fresh faces within the party, some of whom were contesting for the first time. The results, collated at the party's state secretariat in ACME, Ikeja, showed these chairmen trailing behind their challengers—some finishing as low as third place.

The biggest upsets occurred in:

Ojo LGA, where Muibat Rufai ousted the sitting chairman Idowu Rasulu

Onigbongbo LCDA, where Rakiat Hassan was defeated by Moyo Adebanjo

Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, where Ladi Oluwaloni, who had taken over after the death of his predecessor, lost to Agbaje Abiodun

Agbado-Oke Odo LCDA, where Jimoh Ishola clinched the ticket over Oladapo Famuyiwa

Coker-Aguda LCDA, where Azeez Ogidan defeated Rasak Olamilekan

Eti-Osa East LCDA, where Samson Agunbiade, a former chairman, made a dramatic comeback by unseating incumbent John Ogundare—the same candidate who had defeated him in the previous cycle.

The return of Agunbiade to the political stage, particularly, stood out as one of the most talked-about moments of the primaries, symbolizing the unpredictable nature of local politics within the APC.

More updates and reactions from stakeholders are expected in the coming days as the dust settles and attention turns to the general council elections.

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