By Ebenezer Mabinuola
Tensions flared in Ikeja as residents of the Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) staged a protest at the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat, voicing strong opposition to the renomination of Hon. Lasisi Akinsanya as council chairman.
Chanting slogans and carrying placards, the demonstrators accused Akinsanya of overseeing a stagnant administration, with little to show in terms of infrastructure, development, or governance. They also criticized the involvement of APC leaders, including former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola and party chieftain Enilolobo, alleging their backing of Akinsanya’s candidacy despite widespread local disapproval.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Comrade Olokodana Bukhari warned of looming political fallout if Akinsanya’s nomination proceeds unchallenged.
“Hon. Lasisi Akinsanya has been imposed on us,” Bukhari said. “Endorsing him is a recipe for disaster in 2025 and could jeopardize APC’s chances in the 2027 general elections.”
He further claimed Akinsanya had failed to deliver results during past elections and accused him of aligning with individuals whose loyalty to the party was questionable. The LCDA, Bukhari noted, consistently ranks low in Lagos State’s development assessments, underscoring what he described as years of “stagnation and neglect.”
Also speaking, local women leader Mrs. Dayo Aderinmola called on the APC to take seriously the petition submitted against Akinsanya, warning that community patience was wearing thin.
In response, APC State Secretary Dr. Adeola Jokomba received the protesters at the secretariat. He assured them their concerns would be addressed and cautioned against external manipulation of the protest. Jokomba acknowledged receipt of the formal petition and promised that the group’s coordinator, Comrade Adebayo Ifedayo, would be contacted within the week.
The protest adds to growing intra-party tensions ahead of the coming local polls.
