Ayodele Olalere
On July 24, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, conducted election into the chairmanship and councillorship posts in 57 local government and council development areas in the state.
As expected, the ruling party in the state, All Progressives Congress, APC, won all the seats contested for both at the chairmanship and councillorship levels.
The election might have come and gone but there were intrigues that marred the processes, leading to the victory of the candidates. Though other political parties contested in the election yet they could not clinch even a seat. Several factors have been adduced for the landslide victory of the ruling party.
Prior to the day of election, there was lobbying among aspirants, who belonged to various interest groups within the party in a bid to secure the chairmanship slot from their respective LGs. For the incumbents, who were seeking a second term, performances during the first tenure played a huge role in determining their chances of clinching the party’s ticket. Many of them were rated by the party leaders as well as electorate from their local governments.
For those who were to come in for the first time, it was a case of “who do you know?” as various interests battled to impose their candidates.
A source revealed to The Nigerian Xpress the case of the son of a former PDP stalwart and former minister, who later decamped to the APC in Lagos State, whose son was chosen as the candidate a day before names of candidates were sent to the party’s secretariat.
Prior to becoming the ‘anointed’ candidate, two aspirants were said to have been shortlisted out of whom one was eventually picked by party leaders at the local government. However, the tide changed at the last minute, following a call from a top APC leader, who pleaded with the leaders for the name of the son of the ex-minister to be submitted as the candidate for the local government.
The top APC leader was said to have appealed to the party leaders at the local government, saying the former minister had been on his neck with several calls pleading on behalf of his son to be made the chairman of the council. The plea led to the emergence of the 36-year-old son of the former minister, as the chairman of the council. The council supervises Ojota, Ojodu and environs.
While the primaries went peacefully in some councils, there were reports and cases of violence in many of the local governments.
One of such was the protest by members of the APC from Somolu Local Government when they staged a peaceful protest at the party’s secretariat on Acme Road. The protesters urged the party leadership to address what they termed “the illegal and unjustified cancellation of primaries in the council.
In a protest letter addressed to the state chairman of the party, Mr Tunde Balogun and Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Head of Local Government Election Committee of the APC, the members, alleged that the “illegal and unlawful cancellation of the primaries” in the local government came as a rude shock.
The letter read: “It is on record today that there was no news of violence in any of the eight wards in Somolu LGA. Our insistence that the council secretariat should not be used for distribution and collation of the primaries materials and results that had been previously diverted and hijacked by the council chairman (an aspirant in the primaries) in connivance with the party’s LGA Chairman, Femi Taiwo, but rather the Secretariat of the APC on 172, Ikorodu Road, Somolu, should be used because it would be neutral ground and would give zero advantage to all interests, did not go down well with him.
“Our fears and suspicion of foul play by the council chairman were confirmed when some of the ballot boxes that were meant for the primaries were later found to have been hidden in a corner in the Council Secretariat and were retrieved in the presence of the Area Commander and his team.
“The Council Chairman, Mr. Abdu Hamed Salawu, categorically stated that if the local government secretariat is not used for the distribution and collation of materials and results, the election will be cancelled. The returning officer for the primaries publicly admitted that the result sheets for the chairmanship primaries were not included in the materials given to them from the state Secretariat,” the protesters claimed.
Apart from Somolu, primaries in other councils were also marred by protests. Party members from Iru-Victoria Island Local Government Area and Lagos Island Local Government Area also expressed their grievances with ‘imposition’ of candidates.
During a protest, they called on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State and the national leader of APC and members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) to call on party leaders to abide by the decision taken on the mode of primaries for the council polls.
“We are here to voice the concerns of our people in Lagos Island Local Government and Iru-Victoria Island. We are by this protest notifying our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Lagos APC Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, of the attempts by some leaders to thwart the directives of the party on the mode of primaries agreed on so as to foist their candidates on us.”
The issues eventually led to a court case, as aggrieved members dragged the party before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, urging the court to order suspension of the local government election. The matter was filed by one of the party’s chairmanship aspirants, Raheem Rasaki Alani, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
Joined as first and second defendants/respondents in the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/677/2021 were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
Among other prayers, Mr. Alani sought a restraining order on INEC from making the register for Lagos’ 20 Local Government Areas (LGA) available for the election. He argued that LASIEC ought to conduct the election in accordance with the “constitutionally-recognised” LGAs in Lagos, and not based on the 57 local council development areas (LCDAs) created by the state.
But Mr. Kemi Pinheiro filed a preliminary objection on behalf of LASIEC, praying the court to strike out and or dismiss the suit in its entirety. He also prayed the court to adjourn proceedings till after the annual vacation of the court. The suit, however, failed to see the light of the day, as the court adjourned the matter till November 9, 2021.
In spite of the intrigues and rancour, the election went peacefully, as the party swept all the chairmanship posts. At the swearing-in ceremony of the elected Chairmen and their deputies, the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu harped on performance and delivery of dividends of democracy at the grassroots. He charged the council chairmen on performance at the grassroots to justify the confidence the people had in them.
He stated that the electoral process, which culminated in the elections reflected the highest standards expected from such a process, as the state witnessed the conduct of a very fair, credible and transparent electoral process in which the people freely exercised their rights to choose their leaders.
Sanwo-Olu said he was elated that the party won 100 percent of all seats contested for at the LG poll, saying it showed that the party had strong footing in Lagos.
The governor stated that the only way the chairmen could reciprocate the trust the people had in them by voting them into office, was to give their very best and ensure that the welfare and wellbeing of the people took precedence in all their decisions.
“You have been elected to serve the people and put them first in all that you do, and you have a responsibility to ensure that you do not let them down in any way or form.
“Right from your first day in office, I implore you to start thinking about the kind of legacy you would like to leave behind when your tenure comes to an end because it will surely come to an end one day. As we all know, public office is a position of trust that no one holds forever – we hold it for a time and then we pass on the baton to others.
“Let me use this opportunity to emphasise the need for continuity and progress in governance. I urge you all to ensure that you build on the good legacies laid by your predecessors, and also ensure that you surpass the legacies and the expectations of the people, who have very enthusiastically elected you,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said the local government is the closest tier of government to the people and that any gap or shortcoming in local government administration would be keenly felt by the people.
“As a result, the policies and programmes you will be implementing must be people-centric, focusing on how to improve the lives and livelihood of the people. I, therefore, implore you all to continue with the provision and facilitation of services that will directly and positively impact the lives of the ordinary people within your communities.
“You are assuming your political roles as local government chairmen at a very challenging time in our national life. We are almost 18 months into the most disruptive pandemic that the world has seen in many decades, with disastrous consequences for jobs, livelihoods and economies. No aspect of the local, national and global economies has been left untouched,” he added.
Against this backdrop, he said the citizens had continued to rightly clamour for and expect good governance; policy-making and implementation that would enable them to navigate these difficult times and emerge from it all on a solid socio-economic footing.
The governor added that it was the responsibility and burden as the leaders they had elected to live up to their expectations.
Sanwo-Olu said more than ever before, achieving this required cooperation among all levels and arms of government, saying that it is expected that they would work in unity with other tiers of government to bring to bear the dividend of democracy on the lives of people, in all the relevant areas, such construction and maintenance of inner roads, waste management, primary education, healthcare, security, welfare programmes touch the lives of people, among others.
“This is not to eliminate some people because of political difference but time to give all citizens good governance. This is the time for people to feel good governance. Let me assure you of our commitment at the state government level. We will continue to provide you with the much-needed support to discharge your responsibilities.”
In his speech, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed, said the chairmen’s victory at the polls, did not come as a surprise, but as a testimony to the solidity, strength, internal democracy and unity of the APC, despite little trickles of dissent.
He said the robust party support that they all enjoyed, coming collectively from party members, vividly told the story of systemic dynamism, and deep political understanding, that always enable the APC to emerge stronger and more united, from what looked like challenging situations.
“My dear honourable chairmen and Vice Chairmen, now you have clinched the coveted seats and work has begun in earnest. It’s important you remember that APC derives its popularity and grassroots support from its performance and constant delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.
“It is no gain-say, that government exists because of the people and it will continue to exist because of the people. This is why your re-election/election is another call to a season of service, dedication and selflessness to our people,” he said.
Ahmed added that the task ahead of them was to sustain or even surpass the tempo of performance of previous administrations in their respective council areas.
“We expect that the scope of delivery by this crop of honourable chairmen and vice chairmen would cover all sectors and sub-sectors, in tune with the THEMES Agenda of our dear Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
“You are the third-tier of government and the closest to the grassroots. You have emerged only by the will and mandate of the electorates, it behooves on you to ensure that the electorate enjoy the dividends that true democracy brings,” he stated.
Ahmed charged the council chairmen on inclusive governance, saying in any human organisation, there would always be dissenting voices based on individual dispositions and preferred choices.
“But having crossed the bridge, we remain as one in togetherness like our symbolic broom. I therefore enjoin all our chairmen, to carry everyone along in governance; the women; the youths and even those who supported the other camps, APC is one,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the elected chairmen, Sesan Daini from Igbogbo-Baiyeku said the chairmen would not disappoint the governor, but would work to complement the THEMES agenda the government.
Below is the full list of the elected chairmen for the 20 LG and 37 LCDAs.
Oladapo Famuyiwa/Ajoke Obe, (Agbado-Oke Odo)
Oladele Oshinowo/Folake Kayode (Agboyi Ketu), Ganiu Egunjobi/Gbenga Abiola (Agege), Ayoola Fatai/Lucky Uduikhue (Ajeromi), Sulaiman Jelili/Ibrahim Johnson (Alimosho), Valentine Buraimoh/Maureen Ashara (Amuwo-Odofin), Oluwaseun Gabriel/Samson Aromire (Apapa),
Funmilayo Akande/Olawale Olufemi (Apapa-Iganmu), Bolatito Sobowale/Omoshalewa Laguda (Ayobo-Ipaja)
Olusegun Onilude/Pedetin Kappa (Badagry Central), Henugbe Gbenu/Rauf Ibrahim (Badagry West), Kolade Alabi/Zainat Kupoluyi (Bariga), Rasak Ibrahim/Matthew Olaleye (Coker-Aguda), Kunle Sanyaolu/Mutiu Adebiyi (Egbe-Idimu), Monsuru Bello/Ayodele Ayodeji (Ejigbo) , Surah Animashaun/Sikiru Owolomanshe (Epe)
Ismail Akinloye/Lateef Adesanya (Eredo)
Adesegun Bankole/Adeola Adetoro (Eti-Osa), Olufemi Rafiu/John Ogundare (Eti-Osa East).
Others are Yisa Jubril/Samuel Ayodele (Iba) Abdullahi Olowa/Isiaka Olatunji (Ibeju)
Usman Hamzat/Oluwatoyin Akerele (Ifako-Ijaiye), Olufemi Okeowo/Adejinyan Ojora (Ifelodun), Lasisi Akinsanya/Afeez Akinyemi (Igando-Ikotun), Olusesan Daini/Nuraini Okedina-Maja (Igbogbo Baiyeku), Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba/Femi Kabir (Ijede), Mojeed Balogun/Yomi Mayungbe (Ikeja), Wasiu Adesina/Sade Olabanji-Oba (Ikorodu Central)
Banjo Adebisi/Olawale Ameen (Ikorodu North).
Others include Olanrewaju Sulaimon/Adesegun Aluko (Ikorodu West), Adewale Anomo/Wasiu Dehinsilu (Ikosi Ejinrin), Abolanle Bada/Olayinka Ogunleye (Ikosi/Isheri), Fuad Atanda-Lawal/Akinbowale Macaulay (Ikoyi/Obalende), Kunle Agoro/Ayodele Benson (Imota)
Rashidat Adu/Olusegun Ogunbiyi (Iru, Victoria Island)
Adebayo Olasoju/Sadiq Saliu (Isolo)
Olanrewaju Apatira/Oluwayomi Lawrence (Itire-Ikate), Moyosore Ogunlewe/Saliu Babatunde (Kosofe), Tijani Olusi/Akinyemi Eshinokun (Lagos Island), Alade Folawiyo/Adejoke Balogun (Lagos Island East)
Omolola Essein/Jubril Kolawole (Lagos Mainland), Bamidele Kasali/Oluremi Alogba (Lekki), Olabisi Adebajo/Adewale Hamzat (Mosan Okunola), Emmanuel Bamgboye/Tunbosun Aruna (Mushin)
Rasaq Ajala/Oluseyi Jakande (Odi-Olowo)
Rasulu Idowu/Edna Uche-Ubochi (Ojo)
Olusegun Odunmbaku/Bunmi Oluyadi (Ojodu)
Hammed Tijani/Coker Oladipo (Ojokoro)
Olatunde Folorunso/Monsuru Ogungbemi (Olorunda)
Oladotun Olakanle/Olufunke Hassan (Onigbongbo)
Ramotullau Hassan-Akinola/Olanrewaju Moshood (Oriade) Babatunde Johnson/Kafila Akanni (Orile Agege)
Almoruf Oloyede/Modupe Badmus (Oshodi)
Musbau Ashafa/Abiodun Kareem (Oto Awori)
Abdulhamed Salawu/Adekunle Ekinyemi (Somolu)
Bamidele Yusuf/Muiz Dosumu (Surulere)
Kayode Omiyale/Bolanle Ayeleru (Yaba LCDA)
