By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Hon. Babatunde Hunpe |
BADAGRY, LAGOS – Fresh political turmoil has erupted in Badagry following the aftermath of the hotly contested All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections. A prominent grassroots group, the Concerned Youths of Badagry Federation, has strongly condemned what it describes as an unlawful executive overreach by the Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Atande Hunpe.
In a detailed, legally backed statement released on Monday, May 18, 2026, the youth group alleged that Hon. Hunpe ordered officers and leadership of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) to immediately vacate their operational office located within the Local Government Secretariat.
The eviction was allegedly triggered by accusations that the state-backed security outfit showed political sympathy toward a rival candidate during the recently concluded National Assembly primaries.
The youth coalition pointed out that a local government chairman lacks the constitutional or statutory powers to discipline or eject an agency established by the state government. The LNSC is a creation of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Law and operates strictly under the control and command of the Lagos State Government.
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Invoking landmark judicial precedents, the group noted that the rule of law must supersede impulsive executive directives.
“In administrative law, it is trite that where a statute prescribes the manner by which a power is to be exercised, any other method inconsistent with the law becomes null and void," the statement read. "The Supreme Court in Governor of Kaduna State v. Kagoma held that statutory powers must be exercised strictly within the confines of the law establishing such authority.”
The group further argued that the eviction flagrantly violates Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended, which guarantees the right to a fair hearing before any punitive administrative action can be taken.
At the heart of the crisis is the alleged victimization of public officers based on their perceived political preferences. The Concerned Youths reminded the local administration that Section 40 of the Constitution safeguards every Nigerian's right to freedom of association, including political alignment.
“While the Public Service Rules discourage partisan abuse of office, there is nowhere under Nigerian law where mere political sympathy or private political preference automatically constitutes misconduct," the youth coalition asserted. "The Court of Appeal in INEC v. Musa affirmed that political participation and association are constitutional rights which cannot be arbitrarily extinguished by administrative actions inconsistent with the Constitution.”
The group warned that punishing security personnel based on "perceived political alignment," without any concrete evidence of official misconduct, sets a highly dangerous precedent for Nigeria's democratic institutions.
Beyond the political optics, the forced removal of the LNSC from the council secretariat poses a severe risk to the local intelligence community. As a vital grassroots security outfit, the neighborhood safety corps plays a central role in community surveillance, crime prevention, and local intelligence gathering.
By forcefully displacing these officers, the local government has created an artificial vacuum, exposing the people of Badagry to heightened security vulnerabilities.
“This is not a matter of politics. It is a matter of governance, legality, and the safety of the people of Badagry," the group declared. "Any action that obstructs or displaces its officers from duty stations without lawful authority creates an avoidable vacuum in local security operations.”
The Concerned Youths of Badagry Federation formally called on the Governor of Lagos State and the Lagos State House of Assembly to immediately step in. They demand a full, impartial investigation into Hon. Hunpe's directives, urging the state to deploy necessary legislative oversight and disciplinary measures if an abuse of office is established.