Lagos Council Chairmanship Aspirant Dies While Awaiting ₦5.5m Nomination Refund
One of the aspirants in last year’s Lagos State council chairmanship race, Mr. Olakunle Bakare, has passed away after months of waiting for the refund of the ₦5.5 million he paid for the nomination form.
The news of his death was disclosed on Monday in a press statement issued by Hon. Dr. Mathew Kolade Olufemi Arowolo, Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.
In the statement, Arowolo expressed deep sorrow over Bakare’s demise, describing him as a dedicated public servant and administrator.
“It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that we received the news of the passing of Mr. Olakunle Bakare, a distinguished public servant, former Chairmanship Aspirant of Igbogbo-Bayeku LCDA, and the serving Council Manager of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government,” the statement read.
“On behalf of our Principal, Hon. Dr. Mathew Kolade Olufemi Arowolo, and all members of Arowolo Supportive Initiatives, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his beloved family, the good people of Igbogbo-Bayeku LCDA, and the entire management and staff of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government.”
According to the statement, the late Bakare was widely respected for his commitment to grassroots development and his dedication to public service.
“The late Mr. Bakare was a committed administrator, a man of service, and a passionate contributor to grassroots development. His dedication to public service, humility, and willingness to serve humanity will always be remembered by those who had the privilege of working with him and those whose lives he touched,” it added.
His death, the statement noted, represents a significant loss not only to his family but also to the people of Igbogbo-Bayeku and the wider local government community in Lagos State.
Meanwhile, concerns have continued to trail the delay in refunding nomination fees to aspirants who were not selected during the council chairmanship selection process.
It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had reportedly directed the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to refund the nomination fees paid by aspirants who were neither selected as chairmen nor vice chairmen.
However, more than eight months after the directive, many aspirants are yet to receive the refund.
The Lagos APC State Chairman, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, had reportedly assured aspirants during a meeting in October last year that the refunds would be made on or before December 16. The promise, however, was not fulfilled.
During a media interaction in late December, Ojelabi again said that the refunds would be processed within a few days, but the payments did not materialise.
In January, fewer than 10 per cent of the affected aspirants reportedly received their refunds. Since then, payments have stalled, with the party chairman later promising that the process would resume after the APC State Congress held on March 3, where he was re-elected.
Since the congress, several aspirants claim that communication on the matter has ceased, leaving many frustrated over the delay.
One of the aspirants, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the situation as unfortunate, accusing the party leadership of taking their loyalty for granted.
He warned that some aspirants might resort to a peaceful protest if the issue is not addressed promptly.
