By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Following the controversy surrounding the credibility of the just-concluded 2023 general elections, the battle has now shifted to the Election Petitions Tribunal across the nation. However, in Kosofe, particularly in Ikosi Isheri and Agboyi Ketu Local Councils Area of Lagos State, the 2025 Local Government chairmanship race is gradually taking the center stage.
The LCDAs Chairmen, who are currently serving their second tenure, were re-elected in 2021, and their tenure is expected to end in about 2 years’ time. However, many aspirants are making different moves to succeed the incumbent chairmen.
In Agboyi Ketu LCDA, come 2025, there will be an undisputed vacancy by the time the incumbent chairman, Mayor Dele Osinowo, completes his second term of 4 years tenure. According to Kosofe Post findings, no fewer than 10 aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have started subtle consultations to elicit the support of kingmakers in Kosofe and statewide.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Mayoress Samiat Bada, became the Council Chairman in 2020 following the sudden death of late Chairman, Engr. Abdulfatai Oyesanya. She was re-elected in 2021 for a fresh mandate of 4 years.
The two GAC leaders, Former Ikosi Isheri Lcda Chairman, Hon Adekunle Soname, and former Council Sole Administrator, Hon Afolabi Kazeem, were among the stakeholders that made her return for a fresh tenure a success story as Kosofe Federal Lawmaker sponsored candidate, Hon. Loogun Sunday Jegede Oyekunle, and others almost grabbed the party ticket from her.
It should be recalled that Samiat Bada completed about 17 months remaining tenure of her predecessor. She dubbed her new mandate as a new beginning. She has also made it known in several public gatherings of her intention to run again. While her many supporters cheered her up to exercise her constitutional rights, other APC members have enjoined her not to take the last supremacy of the party that favored her too far.
She was urged to execute and implement policies, programs, and projects and bequeathed a good legacy for the residents of Ikosi Isheri that will make her successor campaign a more easy task and not to distract herself from seeking another mandate haven’t served as a Vice Chairman for over 5 years and 5 years plus as Executive Chairman by the time she completed her tenure in 2025.
The main Kosofe Local Government led by Hon. Moyosore Ogunlewe’s seat might be a no-go area, according to APC political tradition of returning a council chairman for a second term, whether their performances are most outstanding or not. Most importantly, the incumbent chairman got his Chairmanship ticket directly from the President-elect, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, as against the Governor Advisory Council Members in Kosofe’s choice.
Regardless of the constitutional rights that guaranteed every citizen’s right to vote and be voted for, it would be very difficult to deny Ogunlewe’s a friend to the President-elect son, Seyi Tinubu second term ticket, irrespective of any reservations.
Many close watchers noted that Agboyi Ketu Chairmanship vacancy is not in doubt but called for capable, competent, experience, total quality character, and unifier to succeed Mayor Dele Osinowo’s politics and inconclusive governance. In Ikosi Isheri, according to findings, some aspirants home and abroad supporters have started pushing