By Akonasu Gbedozin The recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmanship primaries in Lagos State have spar...
By Akonasu Gbedozin
The recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmanship primaries in Lagos State have sparked a wave of controversy, especially in Badagry West and Olorunda Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), where several aspirants and their supporters have openly rejected the announced results, citing alleged irregularities and manipulation.
In contrast, while the outcome in Badagry Local Government (BLG) has stirred mild discontent, it has not escalated into open protests or formal disputes, offering a rare moment of calm amid broader unrest in the Badagry axis.
Calm in BLG as Hunpe Emerges, Rivals Stay Measured
Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, a former member of the House of Representatives, was declared winner of the APC primary for BLG, defeating his closest rival, Hon. Hodewu Suru Avoseh, by a margin of 16 to 10 votes. The result, announced by the APC electoral committee led by Justice Babatunde Ogala (rtd), has not attracted any formal contestation from Avoseh, who has neither congratulated Hunpe nor expressed dissatisfaction publicly.
In a show of maturity, another aspirant, Mr. Hassan Mihode Hammed—who had the backing of current federal lawmaker, Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan—shared a video where he personally called to congratulate Hunpe. Hon. Whingan himself also placed a congratulatory call, setting a tone of party unity in BLG despite minor grumblings within some quarters.
Storm in Badagry West: Oluremi Ajose’s Camp Cries Foul
The atmosphere is far from peaceful in Badagry West LCDA, where the outcome of the May 10 primaries has been rejected by supporters of Princess Oluremi Nutayi Funmilayo Ajose. The APC electoral committee declared Mr. Rauf Ibrahim Kayode Yemaren, popularly called RIKAY as the winner with 19 votes. However, Ajose’s supporters insist she won, alleging that she secured 13 of the 25 valid delegate votes.
At a press conference held on May 11 via Facebook Live, stakeholders from Ajose’s camp—including notable party leaders like Chief Ade Agoro—described the declared results as a "bastardisation of the democratic process." They presented video evidence purportedly showing 22, not 25, delegate votes cast, and featured all 13 of Oluremi’s loyal delegates affirming under oath that they voted for her.
According to the APC LGA Secretary, who was also member of the delegates , “Every one of our delegates swore a spiritual oath to support Princess Oluremi. The votes they cast reflected that. We will not accept this electoral robbery.” The group has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos APC Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and Justice Ogala to review the results and declare Ajose the rightful candidate. They warned that failure to restore her mandate could weaken the APC's support base in the region come 2027.
Olorunda: Balogun’s Supporters Allege Ballot Tampering
In Olorunda LCDA, where Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon was declared winner with 20 votes, another controversy is brewing. Supporters of Prince Adeniyi Idris Balogun have outright rejected the result, alleging it did not reflect the votes cast.
In a press briefing streamed live on Badagry Parrot News, Hon. Wale Adesina, Director-General of the Ade Balogun Campaign Organization, claimed that 18 trusted delegates voted for Balogun. “We were stunned to see only three votes attributed to him in the final result,” he said.
Also speaking was Hon. Ebenezer Babalola, APC Chairman in Olorunda LCDA and a voting delegate, who denounced the results as a "miscarriage of democracy." Several other delegates who claimed to have voted for Balogun echoed the same sentiments and demanded that the actual ballots be recounted. “We want our mandate restored,” they chanted, warning that any failure to act could erode confidence in the APC’s internal democracy and affect future electoral success.
Ajose Peter Kumayon Calls for Unity Amid Protests
Reacting to the allegations, Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon maintained that his victory was legitimate and a true reflection of the will of the delegates. Speaking to Badagry Today via telephone, he stated, “Though no system is perfect, I worked tirelessly to win the confidence of the delegates, and the result reflects that effort.”
He appealed to all aspirants to join him in moving Olorunda forward. “Let’s put aside our differences and focus on the bigger picture—developing our communities. My goal is to ensure progress through infrastructure, quality education, primary healthcare, and youth and women empowerment,” he said.
Reform Praised, but Stakeholders Demand Transparency
Amid the storm, some stakeholders have commended the Lagos APC leadership for adopting indirect primaries as a step towards reform. However, they insist that transparency and fairness must not be sacrificed. “If we want to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, these grievances must be addressed,” one observer noted.
As tensions continue to simmer in Badagry West and Olorunda, all eyes are now on the APC state leadership and whether it will step in to investigate the allegations and calm the storm.
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