Oluwagbenga Abiola, vice-chairman of Agege Local Government Area and a prominent contender for the upcoming council chairmanship election, has withdrawn from the race in support of Abdulganiyu Obasa, son of Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. The Lagos council election is scheduled for July 12, and Abiola was seen as a strong aspirant.
However, speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he announced his decision to step down following the endorsement of Abdulganiyu Obasa by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party’s candidate for Agege LGA.
Let me make it clear — I will never go against my leader, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa,” said Abiola. “This is the man who made me.” He recalled a political journey shaped by the speaker’s influence, starting with his appointment as special assistant on media in 2015, then becoming the youngest council boss in Lagos when he was appointed sole administrator of Agege in 2016.
He went on to serve as secretary to the local government in 2017 and became vice-chairman in 2021 — all with the backing of the party and Obasa. Abiola dismissed any notion of being pressured to step down and emphasized his loyalty to the party’s decision. “Yes, I aspired. Every vice chairman dreams of becoming chairman, but the party has spoken, and I fully agree,” he said.
He added that stakeholders in Agege had encouraged the speaker to present his son for the position as recognition for years of political and humanitarian contributions to the community. Abiola reaffirmed his trust in Obasa’s leadership and expressed confidence in future opportunities. He also directed members of his support group, the Obasa Youth Alliance (OYA), to back the party’s candidate wholeheartedly.
