By Bilesanmi Abayomi
In a recent piece by Taiwo Ebenezer, an aide to Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, it was revealed that the federal lawmaker not only bested the GAC leaders but also defeated local government chairmen during the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in Kosofe Federal Constituency, Lagos. This revelation challenges the common belief that her victory was solely due to the support of the chairmen.
Ebenezer’s insights indicate that the chairmen were brought into the political fray only after the deals were already sealed, suggesting that their influence was minimal in Ogbara’s successful campaign. Contrary to widespread assumptions, it was not the GAC leaders who orchestrated the presentation of the current Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development as the APC candidate, but rather Ogbara herself who outmaneuvered all opposition, including the chairmen and the incumbent Rep, Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye.
Political analysts now argue that while overtaking is a common practice in politics, Ogbara’s ability to maintain her control without grassroots party structure means she must secure a strong position in the 2025 Local Government elections, potentially winning two or three chairmanships to ensure a smooth path to a second term.