By Peter Dansu In what was meant to be a peace-building session, a moment of brutal honesty from Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, the All Progressive...
By Peter Dansu
At a reconciliation meeting held yesterday at the APC secretariat in Badagry, Hunpe made it clear to all 13 aspirants present that he would not be able to accommodate everyone in his government if elected. His candid words came as a surprise to many, particularly those who had attended the gathering expecting assurances of cabinet roles or political appointments following the controversial May 10 APC primaries.
The meeting, spearheaded by APC’s local government chairman, Mr. Gafar Meyon, was part of the party’s ongoing efforts to unite its base ahead of the July 12 local government elections. Following discontent and widespread protests that trailed the primaries in other parts of Lagos—such as Badagry West and Olorunda LCDA—Badagry Local Government had remained relatively quiet. However, new revelations show that silence did not equate to satisfaction.
Speaking in a brief but pointed address to the aspirants, Hunpe did not mince words:
“Let’s not expect miracles. I cannot appoint everyone into the executive if we win. But if we unite and deliver victory for our party in this election and in 2027, I can assure you that many of you will secure appointments either at the state or federal level.”
This frank admission deflated the hopes of several aspirants who had anticipated that the meeting would serve as a soft landing—a chance to be integrated into the incoming administration. Instead, Hunpe's remarks laid bare the hard political reality: the local government executive can only accommodate a limited number of appointments, and 13 aspirants cannot all fit into a cabinet that traditionally seats just seven, including the Secretary to the Local Government.
Privately, some aspirants expressed disappointment. One particularly disgruntled aspirant, who requested anonymity, spoke to Badagry Today via phone shortly after the meeting:
“Yes, a reconciliation meeting held, but Hunpe never promised an all-inclusive government. That’s just media spin. What he said was that not all of us could be absorbed, and that is far from what we were expecting.”
The aspirant criticized Hunpe’s media team for releasing statements suggesting the APC candidate had pledged to carry everyone along, calling it a distortion of the truth. “Many of us came here hoping for a fair deal, not just a pat on the back,” he added.
Party leaders, in an attempt to manage tensions, urged the aggrieved aspirants to bury the hatchet and support Hunpe’s candidacy to secure victory for the APC in the coming polls. They emphasized that unity remains critical if the party is to retain control of the local government and position its members for greater opportunities at the state and federal levels.
Despite the controversy, some observers praised Hunpe’s transparency. “At least he didn’t make empty promises,” a party elder noted. “That level of honesty is rare in politics. It may sting now, but it’s better than false hope.”
As the July elections draw closer, all eyes are now on how the APC in Badagry will manage internal divisions and whether aggrieved aspirants will rally behind the party or silently sabotage its chances at the polls. One thing is certain: Hon. Babatunde Hunpe has drawn a line between wishful thinking and political reality, and it remains to be seen how the party’s foot soldiers will respond.
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