By Bilesanmi Abayomi
A wave of scepticism has trailed a recent report by The Nation newspaper, titled “Sanwo-Olu signs LG administration law as tension rises over implementation in Lagos APC primaries”, with several stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) describing it as misleading and potentially politically motivated.
According to findings by Kosofe Post, reactions gathered via phone conversations and voice notes from residents and party loyalists expressed concern that the article may have been orchestrated to discredit the chairmanship bid of the APC candidate for Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) ahead of the July 12 local government elections.
Doubts about the authenticity of the report intensified after independent checks revealed that no other national newspaper, local blog, or independent news platform had published similar content — with The Nation standing as the sole outlet carrying the story.
One of the commentators, Engr. Olusola Emmanuel Adedayo, MIAENG, publisher and CEO of MoschinoBlog, questioned the report’s legitimacy, saying:
“Why is the news only on The Nation newspaper? I don’t believe this, though I stand to be corrected. Not even on blogs. Let’s see how it will pan out.”
The original story claimed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had signed a new local government administration law, which could influence the conduct of the APC primaries in Lagos. The timing and tone of the article, however, have drawn criticism from political watchers, who fear it could be used to manipulate public opinion and destabilise internal party arrangements.
Party members and community stakeholders have since called on the media to uphold the highest standards of ethical journalism and avoid stories that could incite tension or target specific candidates without substantiated facts.
As the countdown to the local government elections continues, attention remains focused on ensuring a transparent, credible, and peaceful political process across all LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos State.