In protest of Lasisi Akinsanya’s reelection as chairman for a second term, residents of the Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area, or LCDA, stormed the Lagos State All Progressives Congress, or APC, office in Ikeja.
With banners and posters in hand, the demonstrators expressed their displeasure with Akinsanya’s leadership, pointing to what they called the LCDA’s lack of advancement under his rule.
Their complaints went beyond Akinsanya; they also accused APC leader Enilolobo and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola of endorsing his candidacy.
Speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, Comrade Olokodana Bukhari sent a forceful message to the APC leadership, cautioning that Akinsanya’s reelection might have significant political repercussions.
“Hon. Lasisi Akinsanya has been imposed as the party’s candidate for the coming polls. We are here to alert the party hierarchy that he is not fit to represent our LCDA. Endorsing his candidacy is a recipe for disaster in 2025 and could affect the APC’s fortunes in the 2027 general elections,” Bukhari stated.
Additionally, Bukhari charged that Akinsanya was politically associated with those who, in his opinion, had not acted in the best interests of the party. He questioned Akinsanya’s dedication to the party’s objectives and asserted that he had failed to deliver for the APC in past elections.
According to him, the council’s reputation is constantly bad and it frequently comes in last in the state’s monthly development reports. He maintained that underdevelopment and stagnation are reflected in Akinsanya’s leadership.
“All the protesters you are seeing here are residents of the LCDA without any political affiliations. We therefore called on the party hierarchy to review the candidature of Hon. Akinsanya,“ he continued.
A local women’s leader, Mrs. Dayo Aderinmola, cautioned that the community had not seen much progress under Akinsanya’s leadership and requested the APC to look into the issues brought up in the formal appeal.
Dr. Adeola Jokomba, the state secretary of the APC, spoke to the demonstrators outside the secretariat. He reassured them that their worries would be taken into consideration and warned them against outside forces trying to take over the demonstration.
By signing the letter that was submitted, Jokomba recognized the formal complaint and pledged that party authorities will get in touch with Comrade Adebayo Ifedayo, the group’s leader, before the end of the week.
