By Dansu Peter The alleged endorsement of Hon. Babatunde Hunpe as the preferred chairmanship candidate of The Mandate Movement (TMM) for th...
By Dansu Peter
According to credible sources within the aggrieved Mandate Movement, who requested anonymity as they are not authorized to speak on the matter, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe—former Member of the House of Representatives for Badagry Federal Constituency—secured his endorsement through a shadow primary organized by select members of TMM. However, this endorsement did not have the approval of the group's Principal Coordinator in Badagry Local Government, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, who also serves as the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs. This development has sparked strong opposition from several aspirants and loyalists within the movement, who argue that the process was a deliberate attempt to impose Hunpe against the collective will of the group.
Badagry Today has also learned that Hon. Babatunde Hunpe is strongly backed by the incumbent Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Onilude Segun Adeniran, who is also a member of The Mandate Movement. In fact, sources revealed that the controversial endorsement was orchestrated and championed by Adeniran himself.
Concerns Over Forced Withdrawals and Manipulation
Before the contentious endorsement, multiple aspirants from TMM were actively vying for the chairmanship ticket. These included Hon. Akin Ogunlana Todeji, former Lagos State Commandant of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Corps and Mandate Movement Chairman of Badagry Local Government; Hon. Avoseh Hodewu Suru, a two-term former Lagos State House of Assembly member and immediate past Commissioner at the Lagos State Civil Service Commission; Hon. Sunday Setonji Balogun (SSB), a former Secretary to the Local Government during the tenure of the late Husitode Moses Dosu (Oshocco); and Hon. Hassan Mihode Hammed, a vibrant youth and an ally of Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, Member of the House of Representatives for Badagry Federal Constituency, Hon. Babatunde Hunba, Barr. Kiki James, among others.
Findings by Badagry Today revealed that some of these aspirants were allegedly pressured to step down with promises of positions in the incoming local government administration or financial inducements. It was not clear which aspirants withdrew or stepped down for Hon. Hunpe, but Badagry Today had it on good authority that Hon. Akin Ogunlana Todeji, a formidable contender and Chairman of the TMM, was reportedly among those who withdrew under unclear circumstances.
Despite these withdrawals, sources within the movement argue that the process was a sham, designed to rubber-stamp Hunpe’s candidacy. It was alleged that Badagry Local Government Chairman, Hon. Onilude Segun Adeniran, played a central role in securing the endorsement, a move that the faction loyal to Hon. Layode has since dismissed as a "kangaroo primary" lacking the backing of the group’s core leadership.
Allegations of Dual Endorsement and Political Opportunism
Adding to the controversy, insiders claim that Hon. Hunpe had previously sought the chairmanship ticket under the Justice Forum (JF), a rival political faction within Lagos APC. Allegedly, he lobbied through one Mr. Dele Awosika and eventually secured the JF ticket by financially influencing certain leaders within the faction. As it stands, both the Justice Forum and the Mandate Movement may have adopted Hunpe as their candidate.
A document obtained by Badagry Today showed the purported endorsement of Hon. Babatunde Hunpe by the Justice Forum. In the document, aside from Babatunde Hunpe, the JF also endorsed Mr. Segbenu Kayode as the Vice Chairman candidate and Saheed Kapo as the Secretary to the Local Government.
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| Document Showing the Purported endorsement of Hon. Babatunde Hunpe by the Justice Forum |
To further perfect his ambition, Hunpe reportedly also sort the endorsement of the TMM through the help of Hon. Onilude who the incumbent chairman and a leader in the Mandate Movement of Badagry. This perceived dual loyalty has now become a major talking point among concerned TMM members, who argue that a candidate recently got endorsed by an opposing faction should not be imposed on them as well
“How can someone who already gotten the endorsement of the Justice Forum’s now also claiming to be the rightful Mandate Movement candidate?” questioned a senior TMM member. “His desperation to get on the ballot by any means necessary exposes his lack of commitment to TMM’s values and objectives.”
Absence of Key Stakeholders Raises Legitimacy Concerns
Perhaps the most damning revelation is the claim that the endorsement process did not involve key figures within The Mandate Movement, particularly the Principal Coordinator of the group in Badagry Local Government, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode. Concerned members argue that any legitimate decision should have included the Principal Coordinator and other prominent members of the group. Their absence, they insist, renders the entire process null and void.
“Without the approval of TMM’s key leadership, this so-called endorsement is nothing but a political coup,” a source familiar with the group’s internal workings told Badagry Today. “It is unacceptable for a few individuals to hijack the process and impose a candidate without broad-based consultation.”
Mandate Movement Members Demand Reversal of Endorsement
Following these revelations, loyalists of Hon. Layode within The Mandate Movement have vowed to resist Hunpe’s imposition as the group’s candidate. They are demanding that TMM leadership immediately nullify the controversial endorsement and conduct a transparent, all-inclusive process to select the rightful candidate.
“This injustice will not stand,” one aggrieved member declared. “If The Mandate Movement is to retain its credibility, it must reject this fraudulent process and ensure that only a truly committed member is chosen as our candidate.”
Political Implications and Next Steps
As tensions escalate, political observers are closely watching how The Mandate Movement leadership will handle this crisis. The controversy has not only exposed deep divisions within the group but has also raised concerns about the integrity of candidate selection processes within Lagos APC.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed to Badagry Today that Hon. Hunpe's name has already been taken to Lagos for submission to the Lagos State leadership of The Mandate Movement, led by Cardinal James Odumbaku, popularly known as Baba Eto. This move suggests that, despite internal opposition, his backers are determined to push his candidacy forward.
Calls and messages to Hon. Akin Ogunlana Todeji, a key aspirant and the Mandate Movement Chairman in Badagry, went unanswered. However, a media aide to Hon. Hunpe, who requested anonymity, confirmed the endorsement but declined to comment on the growing backlash.
With the local government elections fast approaching, it remains to be seen whether The Mandate Movement will address these concerns or risk further internal divisions that could weaken its political dominance in Badagry.
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