Ogbara Holds Out as APC Backs Oshinowo for Kosofe Federal Constituency Seat
By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Despite the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) backing Mayor Dele Oshinowo (MDO) for the Kosofe Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 House of Representatives election, incumbent lawmaker Hon. Kafilat Adetola Ogbara has yet to publicly align with the party’s emerging position.
Oshinowo emerged as the APC candidate from the party’s May 18 primary election, with his documentation subsequently processed for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, Ogbara has continued to hold out hope for a possible reversal of the party’s decision, with members of her support base reportedly divided over the emerging political alignment.
The situation has intensified ahead of the September 12 deadline for political parties to submit their final candidate lists to INEC.
Remarks by N. Sumner Sambo, Director of News and Politics Editor at ARISE News, had earlier drawn attention to the deadline as a significant point in determining which candidates would ultimately appear on party-submitted lists.
Political observers, however, believe the possibility of a major reversal within the APC is becoming increasingly remote as the party consolidates its candidate list for the 2027 elections.
Unlike some opposition politicians who have challenged disputed primary outcomes through the courts, Ogbara has not been publicly linked to any legal action seeking to overturn the APC primary result. Instead, she has continued to appeal to her supporters to remain calm while awaiting further directives from the party’s national leadership.
The development comes amid wider disputes within several opposition parties over primary elections, candidate substitutions and legal challenges.
Under Nigeria’s electoral framework, political parties are required to submit their final candidate lists within the timetable set by INEC, while changes to submitted candidates are subject to statutory restrictions.
With the September 12 deadline approaching, political watchers in Kosofe are now waiting to see whether Ogbara’s camp will secure a last-minute reversal or whether Oshinowo’s candidacy will remain the APC’s final position for the 2027 election.
For now, the contest has left supporters and political stakeholders across the constituency watching closely for the party’s final position.