Four ex-lawmakers who lost out in Lagos APC chairmanship primaries
Chairmanship primaries of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC Lagos) has come and gone but there was a significant historical mark as four former members of the Lagos State House of Assembly aspired to become chairmen of their local governments but lost.
The ex-lawmakers were; Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Somolu LG), Hon. Olusola Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo), Hon. Fatai Oluwa (Ajeromi-Ifelodun LG), and Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu (Amuwo-Odofin LG).
Rotimi Olowo
Olowo represented Somolu Constituency 1 in the Lagos Assembly for 16years. During his stay in the House, he chaired strategic committees including Budget and Economic Planning, Local Government, and Finance. The ex-lawmaker was known for his robust legislative debate on issues introcuded during plenary sessions including theorizing those issues in the context of Lagos society.
He aspired for the APC Chairmanship ticket with almost 10 aspirants but lost out to Mr Ashimiu Lateef, the choice of the incumbent chairman, Ahmed Salau (Dullar) controversially.
Olusola Sokunle
Sokunle popularly called Omoluabi of Oshodi is a pragmatic politician who represented his constituency (Oshodi/Isolo 1) from 2015 to 2023. As he was representing his constituents, so also he chaired committees of significant. Part of the committees he presided over in the 8years of legislative journey were Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, and Health Services. Sokunle used his professional contacts being a health cum environmental scientist, to sponsor and influence bills relating to environment, health management and Insurance during the period.
Unfortunately despite his contributions to the local government in terms of facilitation of state projects like road rehabilitation and reconstruction, youth employment into civil service and others, he could not clinch the APC Chairmanship ticket. Sokunle contested the ticket with other 3 aspirants.
Fatai Oluwa
Oluwa, a quiet lawmaker during his days in the Lagos Assembly slugged the APC Chairmanship ticket with 7 aspirants. He represented Ajeromi-Ifelodun constituency 2 for good 8 years serving as Chairman Committees on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, and also Tourism.
His aspiration to rule Ajeromi-Ifelodun local government under the APC caught many observers by surprise because after leaving office in 2023, nothing was heard of him. At the primaries, he could not pull any stunt and lost gallantly to Mr Olamilekan Akindipe.
Dipo Olorunrinu
A very vibrant and young politician who left the legislative institution since 2019. Olorunrinu only represented his constituency ( Amuwo Odofin 1) from 2015 to 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He held on to his ideology and belief till the end of the legislative year and never defect till after leaving office.
He did not chair any committee during his 4years in the Lagos Assembly despite being the only PDP who never jump ship when his PDP lawmaker colleagues dump the party for the APC in 2017.
Olorunrinu contested for the APC Chairmanship ticket in 2021 but lost controversially to the incumbent chairman, and challenged the victory in court.
Again in 2025, Olorunrinu aspired for the APC ticket for the second term but lost to Mr Ismail Sanusi.
