Despite Abdul-Ganiyu’s significant grassroots support and high-level endorsements, his disqualification has raised questions about the party’s selection process
Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, the son of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, has been disqualified from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections for the Agege Local Government chairmanship.
This development comes despite Abdul-Ganiyu’s popularity and strong backing from both influential figures and the local community.
The APC Lagos State Electoral Committee, headed by former National Legal Adviser Babatunde Ogala, recently published the list of aspirants cleared to participate in the party’s primaries in preparation for the July 12 local government elections.
Abdul-Ganiyu’s name was notably absent from the list, sparking speculation about the reasons behind his exclusion. The decision has raised questions about the party’s internal dynamics and the potential influence of key stakeholders in the selection process.
Out of 470 aspirants who underwent screening between April 29 and May 3 at the APC secretariat in Ogba, 432 were cleared to contest in the party’s primaries, while 38 others, including Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, were either disqualified or withdrew voluntarily.
According to party sources, some aspirants were disqualified due to issues such as the absence of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), missing APC membership documentation, and inconsistencies in their certificates.
However, insiders suggest that Abdul-Ganiyu’s exclusion was politically motivated, rather than a result of these standard criteria.
It is believed that his withdrawal was influenced by directives from APC national leader and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu.
Despite Abdul-Ganiyu’s significant grassroots support and high-level endorsements, his disqualification has raised questions about the party’s selection process.
The decision to ask Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa to step down from contesting in the APC primary elections for the Agege Local Government chairmanship has sparked intense speculation within Agege political circles.
This move is particularly surprising given Abdul-Ganiyu’s impressive academic and professional background, which had garnered him significant support from influential figures in the area.
Notably, the incumbent Agege chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi, and Vice Chairman Oluwagbenga Abiola, a longtime loyalist of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, had publicly endorsed Abdul-Ganiyu’s candidacy.
Abiola had even stepped down from his own bid for the chairmanship, citing his allegiance to Speaker Obasa and party loyalty. In a statement, Abiola emphasized his commitment to supporting Obasa’s leadership, saying, “I will never go against my leader, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa,” acknowledging the Speaker’s mentorship since 2015.
Furthermore, Abiola expressed his readiness to continue serving the party and pledged to support seven councillorship aspirants aligned with Abdul-Ganiyu’s proposed leadership team.
The withdrawal of Abiola and the endorsement of Abdul-Ganiyu by other prominent figures had suggested a strong backing for Obasa’s son.
However, the recent development has raised questions about the party’s internal dynamics and the potential reasons behind Abdul-Ganiyu’s exclusion from the primary elections.
The upcoming APC indirect primaries on May 10 have sparked significant interest, with political analysts interpreting Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa’s exit as a potential indicator of shifting power dynamics in Agege.
This development may be part of larger strategic maneuvers within the APC aimed at balancing local and national interests, reflecting the complex interplay of political forces within the party.
In a recent confirmation, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) announced that elections will indeed take place across all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
These elections will cover a total of 57 chairmanship seats and 376 councillorship positions, underscoring the importance of this electoral exercise in shaping the future of local governance in Lagos State.
The significance of these elections and the APC’s primaries cannot be overstated, as they will determine the party’s candidates for the local government polls and potentially influence the broader political landscape in Lagos.
The moves and countermoves within the APC, including Abdul-Ganiyu’s exit, are being closely watched by political observers and stakeholders alike.