12 Lagos Lawmakers Lose APC Return Tickets as Party Reshapes Assembly Ahead of 2027
12 Lagos Lawmakers Lose APC Return Tickets as Party Reshapes Assembly Ahead of 2027
The political landscape in Lagos State has taken a dramatic turn as the All Progressives Congress (APC) released its final list of candidates for the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly elections, leaving 12 sitting lawmakers without return tickets.
Among the biggest names affected is actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot, whose exit from the race has become one of the most talked-about developments in the state's political circles.
The outcome signals a major internal restructuring within the ruling party and suggests that APC is preparing for a new political era ahead of the next general election.
The candidate list, reportedly signed by Lagos APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, confirmed that 12 serving members of the Lagos State House of Assembly failed to secure the party's nomination.
The affected lawmakers are:
Desmond Elliot – Surulere Constituency I
Setonji David
Lanre Afini
Gbolahan Ogunleye
Noheem Adams
Fatai Mojeed
Apata Samuel
Jubreel Abdulkareem
Stephen Ogundipe
Emmanuel Oloto
Bonu Solomon
Obafemi Saheed
The exclusion of three principal officers—the Majority Leader, Chief Whip, and Deputy Chief Whip—has particularly drawn attention, highlighting the scale of change underway within the party.
The most dramatic episode unfolded in Surulere Constituency I.
Days before the final candidate list emerged, Desmond Elliot publicly withdrew from the APC primary election, alleging that many of his supporters were prevented from accessing the venue where voting was taking place.
Speaking at the primary venue in Surulere, Elliot claimed repeated efforts to secure access for his supporters yielded no results.
According to him:
“They’ve been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race. This is my ward. If you go outside, those are my people outside.”
His withdrawal immediately intensified speculation about divisions within local party structures and raised questions about the conduct of the exercise.
However, a different narrative emerged from supporters of the process.
Femi Gbajabiamila, who monitored developments in the constituency, reportedly described the primary as transparent and credible.
“The election has been free and transparent, and I am happy to see that,” he said while congratulating participants.
The eventual winner of the Surulere Constituency I primary was Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, a former aide to Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
She reportedly swept all six wards in the constituency and secured a total of 11,625 votes, earning the party's ticket for the 2027 election.
What appears on the surface to be a routine primary election may ultimately prove to be one of the most consequential political shake-ups in Lagos APC in recent years.
Lagos remains the political stronghold of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and continues to play a defining role in national politics. As a result, changes within the state's political structure often carry implications far beyond Lagos.
The removal of 12 incumbents suggests that party leaders are prioritizing renewal, internal realignment, and grassroots influence ahead of 2027.
For observers, the development raises several important questions:
Is APC responding to demands for fresh faces in governance?
Are local political blocs gaining greater influence over candidate selection?
Could the exclusion of influential lawmakers trigger defections or internal resistance?
The answers may emerge in the coming months as the affected politicians decide their next political moves.
The situation is particularly significant because several of those who lost tickets have spent years building political networks across their constituencies. Whether those structures remain loyal to the party or shift elsewhere could influence electoral outcomes in key districts.
The APC's final list for the Lagos State House of Assembly election has produced clear winners and equally significant losers.
While new candidates celebrate their emergence, the political futures of several prominent lawmakers—including Desmond Elliot—now hang in the balance.
Beyond the headlines, the development reflects a broader struggle for influence within Lagos politics. As the countdown to 2027 continues, the fallout from these primaries may shape alliances, alter political calculations, and redefine power within Nigeria's most politically influential state.
For now, one message has emerged from the APC primaries: incumbency is no longer a guarantee of survival.
Nwekwe Esther Amarachukwu
Public speaker,Research-driven writer covering politics and public affairs, committed to accuracy, and meaningful public discourse.
