Sanwo-Olu Accused Of Delaying LGA Law To Favour Loyalist
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has been accused of deliberately postponing the implementation of the newly signed Local Government Administration Law 2025 to protect a preferred candidate from disqualification.
Although Sanwo-Olu assented to the law on May 7, 2025, a commencement order seen by SaharaReporters indicates that the law will only take effect on August 4, nearly three months later.
A source alleged that the delay was strategic, intended to allow the emergence of a candidate who would otherwise be rendered ineligible once the law is enforced.
“The Lagos governor is delaying implementation of the LGA law to pave way for one of his candidates that would be disqualified if the law is implemented immediately,” the source told SaharaReporters.
The Local Government Administration Law 2025 establishes fresh rules regarding succession, tenure, and disqualification of chairmen and vice chairmen in Lagos State’s 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs.
A major clause states that a vice chairman who assumes the role of chairman, whether through death, resignation, or defection of a sitting chairman, will be deemed to have served a full term regardless of the time spent in office.
The official document — Commencement Order No. 6, 2025 — signed by Governor Sanwo-Olu, sets the law’s operational date for August 4, citing Section 62 of the new legislation.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the State Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), and the Solicitor General, Oyenuga Olanrewaju, to clarify issues surrounding the delay.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, while announcing the summons, questioned the rationale behind the delayed enforcement despite the governor’s earlier assent.
Obasa said once a law is signed, it becomes binding, and any attempt to override it through executive order is unacceptable.
Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Administration, Sanni Babatunde, cautioned that altering the law post-assent would undermine the Assembly’s authority.
His counterpart from the Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions, and LASIEC Committee, Oladipo Ajomale, also expressed shock, stating that the law had already been made public.
Lawmaker Sa’ad Olumoh insisted that no Executive Order could override a valid law.
In a related development, the House received a letter from the Otto-Awori LCDA notifying it of the swearing-in of Abdulkareem Abioun as the substantive chairman following the death of Prince Musibau Ashafa.
However, the letter described Abioun only as “acting” chairman, raising concerns over proper application of the new law.
Speaker Obasa directed the Clerk to notify the governor and summoned Abioun, the Council Manager, and legal officers to appear before the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for further inquiry.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
