The councillor representing Ward C1 in the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, Oluwakemi Rufai, has passed away just two weeks after taking the oath of office.
Rufai, the only female member of the legislative arm of the council, reportedly died in the early hours of Wednesday, August 13, after a brief illness.
The news of her death was confirmed by both the Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Sesan Olowa, and Rasaki Kasali, his counterpart in the Lekki Local Council Development Area.
In separate statements, they described her passing as a shocking loss to the council and the community.
In a reaction, the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State expressed deep sorrow over the councillor’s death. The party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, described Rufai as “one of the rising stars within the party,” highlighting her dedication as a grassroots mobiliser and her commitment to gender inclusion. He stated that although her time in office was short, it reflected her unwavering commitment to community development and party ideals.
Oladejo further extended his condolences to Rufai’s family, the Ibeju-Lekki community, and her constituents. “Her legacy of service, courage, and vision will not be forgotten,” he said.
Rufai’s death comes shortly after the recent Lagos State local government elections held on Saturday, July 12. The elections saw 139 candidates from at least 10 political parties contesting for 57 chairmanship positions, while 14 political parties fielded 842 candidates vying for 376 councillorship seats across the state.
These local elections follow a Supreme Court ruling from a year ago granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. Despite the ruling, the federal government has continued to route local government allocations through state governments. Recent analyses indicate that state governors have received a total of N4.5 trillion under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, raising ongoing concerns about the delayed implementation of the autonomy verdict.
