On April 30, 2025, a significant political development unfolded in Lagos State as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa, officially withdrew his son, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, from the race to become the next chairman of Agege Local Government. This decision came shortly after a closed-door meeting between the Speaker and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja, which, according to insiders, had a direct impact on the Speaker’s subsequent actions.
Prior to this development, the political atmosphere in Agege had been tense, following the Speaker’s earlier directive that local party leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should support his son as the sole candidate for the chairmanship seat. This move had reportedly led several aspirants to step down, paving the way for Abdul-Ganiyu’s anticipated emergence as a consensus candidate.
However, President Tinubu, in what sources described as a firm and deliberate stance, advised Speaker Obasa to withdraw his son from the race. According to those familiar with the meeting, the President emphasized the importance of upholding democratic values within the APC. He reportedly warned that allowing the Speaker’s son to run unchallenged could harm the party’s popularity, create internal strife, and alienate long-serving, loyal party members.
Following this presidential intervention, Speaker Obasa returned to Lagos and informed the party structure in Agege of his decision. He also encouraged those who had stepped down in favor of his son to resume their campaigns, purchase nomination forms, and actively participate in the upcoming primaries. The reversal was quickly evident when Abdul-Ganiyu failed to appear for the official APC screening of chairmanship aspirants at the party secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos. His absence was confirmed just 24 hours after the party commenced the screening exercise.
The withdrawal of the Speaker’s son has sparked widespread reactions within the APC. While some see it as a setback for Abdul-Ganiyu, many others have applauded the President’s intervention as a commendable effort to protect the party’s integrity and promote fairness in the political process. The development also disrupted an online and grassroots campaign machinery that had been built around Abdul-Ganiyu, which included significant youth mobilization and endorsements from various local stakeholders.
This situation presents a critical moment in Nigerian politics, particularly for the APC in Lagos. It reflects the delicate balance between political influence and democratic ideals within party politics. By urging the withdrawal of a high-profile aspirant tied to a powerful political figure, President Tinubu has arguably taken a bold step to prevent nepotism and reinforce internal democracy.
In conclusion, while the decision may have personal implications for the Obasa family, it sets a precedent that no aspirant should enjoy undue advantage based on familial ties. It also reaffirms the notion that political positions should be earned through merit, popularity, and open competition—principles that are essential for the survival and credibility of any democratic institution.
*Sincerely*
*Otunba Ademola Akinnola*
