Key Lagos Assembly power brokers who suffered major defeat in APC primaries

The outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for tickets into the Lagos State House of Assembly, released by the party on Monday, has sparked conversations about the perceived decline in the political influence of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, both within the party and across Lagos politics.

Notably, several principal officers and influential lawmakers considered key figures within the House power structure were absent from the list of successful APC candidates. Among them were Majority Leader Noheem Adams, Chief Whip Fatai Mojeed, and Deputy Chief Whip Setonji David — all regarded as members of the House’s influential inner caucus.

Mojeed, who sought the party’s ticket to return to the Assembly for a fifth term, lost to Abiola Olowu. The Chief Whip was first elected into the House in 2011 but gained more prominence in 2023 following his appointment as Chief Whip.

Another influential figure and close ally of Speaker Obasa, Adams, was elected into the Assembly in 2017 following the death of Hon. Kazeem Alimi, popularly known as KADECO. Through strategic political positioning, Adams earned Obasa’s trust and was subsequently appointed Majority Leader when Obasa returned as Speaker in 2023. The position is traditionally regarded as one reserved for highly experienced lawmakers, despite Adams having spent just seven years in the Assembly at the time of his appointment.

Adams also demonstrated strong loyalty to Obasa during the January 13, 2025 impeachment saga, standing firmly by the Speaker until his eventual reinstatement 42 days later.

Setonji David, another influential lawmaker, also failed to secure the party’s ticket for a fourth term. Elected in 2015 to represent Badagry Constituency I, David rose in prominence after becoming the House spokesperson following the death of former spokesman Tunde Braimoh of Kosofe II.

His role as spokesman brought him closer to the Speaker and strengthened his standing within the Assembly’s power structure. In 2023, Obasa appointed him Deputy Chief Whip. Although the impeachment crisis briefly strained their relationship, David later realigned with the Speaker after his reinstatement and remained influential within the House.

The House spokesman, Stephen Ogundipe of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I, is another lawmaker widely considered a power broker within the Assembly. Despite being a first-term lawmaker, his role as the House’s mouthpiece reportedly gave him direct access to the Speaker on critical legislative matters.

Although Ogundipe also reportedly fell out with Obasa during the impeachment saga, he was able to rebuild his relationship with the Speaker after his return. Since then, he has continued to maintain considerable influence within the Assembly.

Perhaps the most surprising development from the APC primary was the omission of the names of aspirants from Agege Constituencies I and II — Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf Ninolowo — both believed to have enjoyed the backing of Speaker Obasa.

In the APC candidates’ list signed by the party’s State Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, Gbenga Abiola Agbelebu and Sule Akindele emerged as candidates for Agege Constituencies I and II respectively, a development many observers interpret as a sign of Obasa’s waning political influence in Lagos.

With 25 lawmakers securing return tickets, political observers believe the successful candidates will now need to strengthen their relationship with constituents beyond party affiliations ahead of the next election.