The son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, has been disqualified from contesting the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primaries in Agege Local Government Area, The PUNCH reports.
Abdul-Ganiyu was among 38 aspirants dropped from the race either by disqualification or voluntary withdrawal, according to a list released on Friday by the Lagos State APC Electoral Committee, headed by former National Legal Adviser, Babatunde Ogala.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that a total of 470 aspirants were screened between April 29 and May 3 at the party’s secretariat in Ogba, out of which 432 were cleared to proceed.
Although official disqualification reasons included absence of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), irregularities in APC membership documentation, and certificate issues, Abdul-Ganiyu’s exit is believed to have deeper political undertones.
Party insiders hinted that his withdrawal followed high-level intervention, allegedly from President Bola Tinubu, who also serves as APC’s national leader.
Abdul-Ganiyu, who reportedly enjoyed significant grassroots support and endorsements from key stakeholders, including the incumbent Agege council chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi, had been considered a front-runner in the race.
His bid also received backing from the council’s vice chairman, Oluwagbenga Abiola, a known loyalist of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who had earlier stepped down from the contest in deference to party decisions and Obasa’s leadership.
“I will never go against my leader, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa,” Abiola said, crediting the Speaker for mentoring him since 2015 and reaffirming his commitment to the APC.
The development has stirred debate within Agege’s political circles, with analysts suggesting that Abdul-Ganiyu’s removal could reflect a strategic recalibration within the APC ahead of the July 12 local government elections.
His campaign structure had also pledged support for seven councillorship aspirants aligned with his vision.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has confirmed that elections will hold across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), covering 57 chairmanship seats and 376 councillorship positions.
The APC will conduct its indirect primaries for chairmanship and councillorship positions on May 10.
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