Hunpe’s Purported Endorsement, An “Awada Kerikeri” – Prince Kuwande Questions Transparency in Mandate Movement Selection Process

By Dansu Peter  Prince Semako Kuwande, Aspirant   The reported endorsement of Hon. Babatunde Hunpe as the preferred candidate of the Mandat...

By Dansu Peter 

Prince Semako Kuwande, Aspirant 

The reported endorsement of Hon. Babatunde Hunpe as the preferred candidate of the Mandate Movement in Badagry Local Government has sparked intense controversy within the group, with key stakeholders rejecting the move and branding the process as flawed and illegitimate.

One of the chairmanship aspirants, Prince Semako Kuwande, has strongly criticized what he described as an “Awada Kerikeri” selection process, questioning the transparency and fairness of the exercise. He condemned the hasty 24-hour deadline given for aspirants to submit letters of intent, arguing that it was designed to disenfranchise qualified contenders and favor a predetermined candidate.

Further deepening the controversy was the informal manner of communication, as aspirants were allegedly notified via a midnight text message from the Secretary, summoning them to a meeting at the council chairman’s chamber by noon the following day. The meeting, which was reportedly anchored by the council chairman, allegedly focused on a directive to endorse a single candidate without the use of an electoral college, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from within the party.

Prince Kuwande also dismissed claims on social media that aspirants were not invited, calling such statements “a blatant lie from the pit of hell.” He clarified that aspirants unanimously decided to boycott the process, citing its lack of fairness and premeditated outcome.

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Meanwhile, the endorsement has been met with strong opposition from another faction of the Mandate Movement, which is loyal to the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim, the group’s Principal Coordinator in Badagry Local Government. In what appears to be an internal rift, this faction has openly rejected the endorsement, further questioning the legitimacy of the selection process.

Amid the growing controversy, Hon. Akindele Ogunlana, Chairman of the Mandate Movement, has issued a statement denying the endorsement, a move that signals deep divisions within the group ahead of the forthcoming elections.

With tensions running high, Prince Kuwande has called for a return to the established selection process, urging the leadership to respect the group’s hierarchical order and ensure proper communication with all members. He further warned that “it’s not going to be business as usual again,” as stakeholders prepare for a showdown in the party’s internal politics.

As the crisis unfolds, all eyes remain on the Mandate Movement leadership to clarify its stance and restore confidence in its decision-making process.