By Peter Dansu Barely days after the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in Badagry Federation announced that aggrieved members had ...
By Peter Dansu
Barely days after the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in Badagry Federation announced that aggrieved members had been reconciled following the fallout of the party's controversial primaries, former Lagos State governorship aspirant, Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose (SMA), has launched a fresh reconciliation initiative, signalling that efforts to restore peace within the party are far from over.
The latest move came on Sunday, July 19, 2026, when Dr. Ajose convened a high-level meeting of party leaders, political office holders and stakeholders from Badagry Local Government, Olorunda LCDA and Badagry West LCDA at the Mato Club of Fams Embassy Hotel and Suites, Ibereko, Badagry.
The meeting, which lasted several hours, focused on addressing grievances arising from the APC primary elections and charting a new path towards unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Unlike the earlier reconciliation exercise championed by the Badagry APC leadership and the three council chairmen, which was criticised by many party faithful because none of the major aggrieved aspirants attended, Dr. Ajose's intervention openly acknowledged that reconciliation within the party remains an unfinished task.
The previous reconciliation meeting had declared that all disputes had been resolved, with party leaders urging members to unite behind the APC candidates. However, political observers and several social media users questioned the credibility of that exercise, pointing out that key aggrieved aspirants, including the member representing Badagry Federal Constituency, Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu and Engr. Hon. Setonji David, were absent.
The three politicians have continued to maintain grievances over the outcome of the party primaries. Whingan has alleged that despite winning the House of Representatives primary, the ticket was awarded to Hon. Olusegun Onilude Adeniran. Bonu has also insisted that his victory for the Badagry Constituency I Assembly ticket was allegedly handed to former Badagry West Chairman, Hon. Gbenu Hennugbe, while Setonji David has similarly claimed that his victory for the Badagry Constituency II ticket was replaced with Hon. Oladunjoye Yusuf Olatunde.
Against this backdrop, Dr. Ajose told stakeholders that personal interests and factional loyalties must give way to the larger objective of protecting the APC and ensuring victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other party candidates in 2027.
"We must be united and progressive in thought and action to deliver unprecedented votes come the 2027 general elections," he said, urging party members to embrace genuine reconciliation and strengthen grassroots cohesion.
After extensive deliberations and the airing of concerns by participants, stakeholders unanimously constituted a new reconciliation committee to engage aggrieved members and bridge the widening divisions within the party.
The committee will be chaired by veteran administrator and two-time former Lagos State Commissioner, Hon. Olarewaju Saka-Shenayon, a close ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Alhaja Adesina was appointed Secretary to represent Olorunda LCDA, while Chief Oke emerged as the committee's Public Relations Officer, representing Badagry West LCDA.
Although the meeting attracted a large number of party stakeholders and loyalists, some influential figures were noticeably absent. They included the Executive Chairmen of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, Olorunda LCDA, Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon, Badagry West LCDA, Hon. Rauf Ibrahim Kayode Yemaren, APC apex leaders Chief Olatunde Joseph and Hon. Hontonyon Joseph Bamgbose, as well as Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan.
Political observers believe the newly inaugurated committee faces the crucial task of engaging these key stakeholders, alongside other aggrieved party leaders, if it hopes to achieve a truly comprehensive reconciliation before campaign activities gather momentum.
The emergence of Dr. Ajose's reconciliation committee has already generated fresh discussions within Badagry's political circles, with many grassroots members describing it as a practical acknowledgement that the divisions created by the APC primaries have not been completely resolved despite earlier declarations by the party leadership.
As preparations for the 2027 elections intensify, the success or failure of the parallel reconciliation effort may prove decisive in determining whether the APC can rebuild internal trust and present a united front capable of delivering the overwhelming electoral victory the party seeks in Badagry Federation.
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