By Peter Dansu In a dramatic twist ahead of the Lagos local government elections, the Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary...
By Peter Dansu
In a dramatic twist ahead of the Lagos local government elections, the Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Hameed Oyênuga, made a rare and surprising appearance at the Badagry Division of the Lagos State High Court on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
The appearance was during the hearing of a high-stakes lawsuit filed by Medemaku Abayomi Noah, the chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Badagry Local Government. Medemaku is challenging the eligibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, claiming that his nomination violates constitutional provisions.
The suit, marked BD/9439GM/25, was heard before Justice Emmanuel O. Ogundare. At the heart of the case is the contention that the APC allegedly conducted a primary election for a non-existent entity—“Badagry Central Local Government”—instead of the constitutionally recognized Badagry Local Government. Medemaku argues that this procedural misstep invalidates Hunpe’s nomination.
While representatives of all the defendants, including the Lagos State Government, the Attorney-General, the Lagos State House of Assembly, LASIEC, and the APC, were present, Hunpe himself was noticeably absent. His absence, according to the PDP legal team, is part of a pattern of evasion. The court was informed that Hunpe had repeatedly refused to accept court documents in person.
In response, Medemaku’s legal team filed a Motion Ex-Parte under Order 9, Rule 5 of the Lagos State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, requesting permission to serve Hunpe electronically via phone and WhatsApp. An affidavit in support of the motion cited multiple failed service attempts at Hunpe’s residence, including one where his security detail was instructed to collect the documents on his behalf—a method the PDP lawyers rejected.
The unexpected courtroom presence of Solicitor-General Oyênuga underscored the seriousness of the case. Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Medemaku described the development as unprecedented.
"For the Solicitor-General to appear on short notice shows how high the stakes are. I’ve handled cases against the government for over 10 years, and I’ve never seen him in court. This is a clear indication that this matter cannot be swept under the carpet," he said.
Justice Ogundare has adjourned the case to September 30, 2025, a move that leaves the fate of Hunpe’s candidacy hanging in the balance as the July 12 elections draw near.
Despite the legal battle, Medemaku has urged the residents of Badagry to remain calm and law-abiding. "We are not trying to stop the election," he said. "We are simply asking the court to answer some valid constitutional questions. Once the court rules, the right thing will be done."
He also used the opportunity to rally support, urging voters to back the PDP at the polls, describing himself as the most credible and prepared candidate for the chairmanship seat.
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