By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The recent intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Public Petitions and Ethics has drawn renewed attention to the growing crisis within the seven-member Legislative Arm of Kosofe Local Government Area.
The intervention followed a petition dated December 2, 2025, earlier sighted by KosofePost, titled “Petition Against Abuse of Office, Tyrannical Conduct, and Deliberate Marginalization of Three Elected Councillors by the Executive Chairman, Kosofe Local Government, Barr. Moyosore Adedoyin Ogunlewe.” The petition was formally addressed to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.
In the petition, three elected councillors accused the Executive Chairman of gross misconduct, abuse of office and deliberate actions aimed at undermining the authority and independence of the legislative arm of the council. Central to their claims is the allegation that the Chairman unlawfully appointed unelected individuals, described as “shadow councillors,” to replace and impersonate duly elected representatives in some wards.
The councillors alleged that the immediate past councillors for Wards B and D, Hon. Kehinde Saliu and Hon. Idowu Oluloro, as well as the immediate past Secretary to the Local Government, Mr. Fatai Gbadebo, were empowered to act as de facto councillors for Wards B, D and F respectively. According to the petition, these individuals allegedly performed statutory duties reserved for elected councillors, including distributing ₦100,000 empowerment funds to constituents, with 50 slots allocated to each of them, and representing the wards at official functions alongside the Chairman despite lacking electoral mandates.
The petitioners further alleged that the Chairman disrupted the Ilera Eko Health Scheme at the Oworonshoki Health Centre, an action they claimed was captured in video evidence attached to the petition. They described these actions as a direct violation of democratic principles and the Local Government Administration Law.
Beyond the issue of alleged “shadow councillors,” the petition also accused the Chairman of unlawfully withholding statutory allowances and entitlements from the aggrieved councillors. They claimed their allowances had been paid only once since their swearing-in, while the remaining four councillors allegedly received regular payments. The petitioners also stated that they were denied three months’ imprest without explanation, allegedly due to their loyalty to party leadership rather than to the Chairman.
They further alleged that the ₦100,000 empowerment programme was executed without their knowledge or legislative approval, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. In addition, they claimed exclusion from welfare packages distributed during the 2026 Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum held on November 4, 2025, at Emmanuel High School, Ojota, where four councillors reportedly loyal to the Chairman allegedly received ₦200,000 each.
The councillors also accused the Chairman of threats, intimidation and the use of hoodlums against elected officials. They alleged repeated public threats and acts of harassment, including an alleged attack on Councillor Abayomi Elugbidin of Ward B. Another incident cited was the alleged disruption of an Ilera Eko Health Programme at the Oworonshoki Health Centre, reportedly facilitated by Councillor Elugbidin at the instance of the traditional ruler, Oba Babatunde Saliu Oloworo of Oworo.
In their prayers to the Lagos State House of Assembly, the councillors called for a thorough investigation into the allegations, an end to the use of unelected individuals as councillors, immediate payment of all outstanding allowances and entitlements, guarantees for their safety, and the restoration of harmony and legislative independence within Kosofe Local Government. They also urged the Assembly to curb what they described as political intolerance and narcissistic tendencies against party members.
Weeks after both the Chairman and the aggrieved councillors appeared before the House of Assembly, neither party has issued an official public statement on the matter. However, KosofePost gathered that the Council Chairman has reportedly been advised to resolve the dispute amicably and ensure the payment of the councillors’ entitlements, among other demands.
Observers believe the intervention by the Lagos State House of Assembly could help restore unity within the seven-man legislative council, improve synergy between the executive and legislative arms of Kosofe Local Government, and ease the passage of the 2026 budget without further controversy.