Politics

LG Election: Why Speaker Obasa Pulled His Son Out of Agege Chairmanship Race

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 4th, 2025.

LG Election: Why Speaker Obasa Pulled His Son Out of Agege Chairmanship Race

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has officially withdrawn his son, Abdulganiyu Obasa, from the race for Chairmanship of Agege Local Government Area, ahead of the upcoming local government elections scheduled for July 12, 2025. This decision came amid rising tension, protests, and petitions from party members and stakeholders within the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who opposed what they described as an attempt to impose his son on the electorate.

Initially, Obasa had urged political actors in Agege to refrain from fielding candidates to succeed the current chairman, Kola Egunjobi, allegedly clearing the way for his son’s emergence. However, following mounting internal pressure and directives from party elders, those who had earlier stepped down for Abdulganiyu have now been encouraged to relaunch their campaigns, obtain nomination forms, and prepare for the APC primaries.

Sources indicate that the turning point came after Speaker Obasa returned from Abuja, where he reportedly met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Aso Rock. It is understood that the President advised him to halt his son’s ambition in order to maintain party unity and credibility.

Presidency insiders revealed that the meeting with Tinubu occurred just before the APC screening exercise for local government aspirants. The President was said to have emphasized the need for an open and fair process, stressing that favoritism could damage the party’s reputation and alienate long-serving members.

Abdulganiyu’s withdrawal became evident when he was noticeably absent from the party’s scheduled screening session for chairmanship hopefuls in Ikeja, raising eyebrows among observers and confirming speculations.

Campaign activities previously undertaken on his behalf—including youth engagement efforts and grassroots outreach programs—have since slowed down, following the party’s stance on internal democracy and fair competition.

Local APC leaders have praised President Tinubu for intervening and upholding democratic values within the party. They view the move as a positive response to widespread concerns over perceived nepotism and an assurance that every aspirant, regardless of background, will have a fair shot in the upcoming election.