Lagos State has been thrown into mourning as four recently elected female political officers have died within weeks of their inauguration. The sudden deaths, which occurred under different circumstances, have sparked conversations across the state.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the tragic losses come just 57 days after the July 27, 2025, inauguration of newly elected council chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors across Lagos. Within this short time, four women, serving in various local councils, have passed away.
The first was Oluwakemi Rufai, Councillor of Ward C, Ibeju-Lekki, who died on August 13, just 17 days after inauguration. Reports say she was the only female legislator in her council and passed away after a brief illness. Similarly, Zainab Shotayo, Councillor and Chief Whip in Odiolowo-Ojuwoye LCDA, died on August 18, only 22 days after being sworn in.
Mediaplusng.com also reports that on September 20, Princess Oluremi Nutayi Ajose, Vice Chairman of Badagry West LCDA and daughter of Oba Oyekan Possi Ajose, the Alapa of Apa Egun-Awori Kingdom, died barely two months into her tenure. The following day, September 21, Basirat Oluwakemi Mayabikan, Councillor of Ward F, Shomolu, also passed away, marking the fourth loss in less than two months.
Reacting to the situation, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed claims that the deaths were politically motivated. The party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, described such insinuations as unfounded and insensitive. He urged the public to avoid spreading speculation and misinformation, stressing that the APC has continued to prioritize women’s representation in politics across the state.
