In Agege, the political ground is shifting. Across Wards, a coalition of stakeholders has publicly rejected former Agege Local Government Chairman Ganiu Egunjobi’s bid for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat representing Agege ConstituencyII. The message is blunt and unified: “We can’t endure this again.”
For many in the community, the rejection is less about one election and more about closing a chapter they say was marked by marginalization and stifled participation.
The core grievance is simple: broken trust. Stakeholders allege that during his eight-year tenure as Agege LG Chairman, Egunjobi sidelined party members and community leaders who did not fall within his inner circle.
“From Ward A to Ward E, Honourable Ganiu Egunjobi has let down lots of Agege political stakeholders,” one Ward A leader stated.
The complaint is that political engagement under his administration became a one-way street, where ideas and input from outside his team rarely gained traction.
The criticism hits closest to home in Ward A, Egunjobi’s own base in Isale Oja, Agege. Stakeholders there say the area saw little to no visible developmental impact during his time in office. Beyond infrastructure, they argue, the bigger loss was political inclusion.
“No one could brainstorm an idea to Honourable Ganiu Egunjobi or his team and have it accepted,” a party chieftain claimed.
For a constituency that expects its leader to be a bridge, many feel he became a gatekeeper.
Political leadership, stakeholders argue, is about influence, inspiration, and shared vision. By that standard, they say Egunjobi’s leadership style fell short.
“When he got the power as Chairman, many political stakeholders lamented,” one source said. The concern is that authority was used to control rather than empower, with allegations that his approach jeopardized the careers of several local political figures in Ward A and beyond.
Much of the frustration is directed at what stakeholders call a concentration of power within a single political bloc. They allege that Egunjobi’s godfather has dominated appointments across Agege LG and Orile Agege LG, installing his son as Chairman of Agege LG, and placing loyalists as Vice Chairman and SLG in both councils.
“Only his candidates occupy these offices,” a stakeholder said. The fear expressed is that this model could extend beyond Agege if unchecked, potentially influencing appointments across Lagos’ 55 LGs and LCDAs.
Stakeholders describe the situation as “political captivity.” They claim that supervisory councillors meant for other groups within the party were never installed after appointment, effectively pushing rival factions aside. “For too long, other political groups were pushed aside,” one member said. The sentiment is that democracy at the grassroots level has been narrowed to benefit a single mandate under the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Transparency is another flashpoint. Stakeholders say there has never been clarity on how local government funds are spent on projects in Agege and its environs.
“Nobody knows how much is being spent. No one is accountable to the people,” a community leader stated.
They argue that government resources should not be used to oppress or exclude citizens, and that public office requires public accountability.
Interestingly, the same stakeholders congratulated Egunjobi’s godfather for securing the sole House of Representatives ticket unopposed, calling his 23-year influence in Agege politics a milestone. “It means he has won many stakeholders’ hearts,” one said.
But they draw a line: long tenure does not equal automatic endorsement for all allies.
“His tenure as leader in Agege politics has ended,” a stakeholder declared, pointing to last year’s Lagos State House of Assembly crisis as a turning point.
It is obvious, only Honourable Desmond Elliot is fingered out as a scape goat.
However, the rejection is being framed as a demand for equity. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” stakeholders argue. They say brilliant politicians with leadership charisma in Agege have been sidelined for too long, and that the community deserves broader representation. “Major stakeholders in Ward A are saying this candidate can never fly in Agege,” one source said, signaling that the opposition is organized and ward-based.
With the 2027 political cycle approaching, Agege appears to be at an inflection point. Stakeholders say the community has been repositioned politically, but that repositioning must include inclusion and fairness. “This political shenanigans must stop. Enough is enough,” was the closing refrain at a recent stakeholders’ meeting. Whether the party leadership heeds the call remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: in Agege, the old formula of top-down selection is facing its stiffest resistance in years. The question now is whether the APC will recalibrate or press forward with its chosen candidate.
