By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Medemaku Abayomi and Babatunde Hunpe |
Medemaku Abayomi Noah, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Badagry Local Government, has filed a lawsuit challenging the eligibility of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Babatunde Hunpe, arguing that Hunpe’s nomination for a non-existent "Badagry Central Local Government" violates Nigeria’s constitution.
The case, filed at the Lagos High Court, seeks to nullify Hunpe’s candidacy and halt the chairmanship elections in unrecognized Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) .
Medemaku’s suit names key defendants, including the Lagos State Attorney-General, the House of Assembly, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Babatunde Hunpe, and the APC.
The legal action hinges on Sections 3(6), 7(1), and 8 of the 1999 Constitution, which outline Nigeria’s recognized 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The plaintiff argues that "Badagry Central" is not constitutionally recognized, rendering Hunpe’s primary election invalid .
The lawsuit also questions LASIEC’s authority to conduct elections in 37 LCDAs, which lack constitutional backing. Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in AG Federation v. AG Abia & Ors (2024).
The suit partly reads: A DECLARATION that, there is no Local Government Area Council known or recognized by the name “BADAGRY CENTRAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT” in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended).
An Order that the purported election where the 5th Defendant Hon. BABATUNDE HUNPE was sponsored as a candidate by the 6th Defendant for Badagry Local Government Area Council in the Local Government Election scheduled for July 12, 2025 (or soon thereafter), is invalid and unknown to law as there is no primary conducted by the 6th Defendant for the said Badagry Local Government Area Council, rather the 6th Defendant only conducted primary election into a non-existing Badagry Central Local Government Area.
An Order that the 5th Respondent Hon. BABATUNDE HUNPE was not dully and validly elected as a candidate for Badagry Local Government Area Council in the Local Government Election scheduled for July 12, 2025 (or soon thereafter), as the purported Primary Election held for Badagry Central Local Government Area Council by the 6th Respondent is unknown to law.
This legal battle follows protests over alleged irregularities in Lagos APC primaries, where party leaders were accused of imposing candidates. Hunpe, a former House of Representatives member, faces scrutiny over his nomination for a phantom LGA. Medemaku’s legal team asserts that the APC conducted no valid primary for Badagry LGA, only for the unconstitutional "Badagry Central" .