By Fatima Saka
The Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Council, Mr Akeem Wolimoh, has declared his intention to seek re-election, insisting that his previous eight years in leadership at the local government level do not disqualify him from another term at the state level.
Wolimoh made the declaration on Monday while addressing allegations surrounding his eligibility to contest for the chairmanship, explaining that he had served four years as chairman of the Lagos State Council and eight years as chairman of the Legion in Ojo Local Government Area.
He maintained that there was no provision in the Nigerian Legion Act barring a former local government chairman from seeking another eight years at the state level.
“There is nowhere in the Act that says if you have spent eight years as local government chairman, you cannot spend eight years as state chairman. So, I am eligible to contest and will be contesting again,” he said.
The chairman also dismissed reports that members of the Legion staged a protest at its Lagos office on November 2, 2026, describing the gathering as an attempt by some misinformed veterans to seek clarification over an alleged verification of service documents.
“There was never any protest. What we had on November 2, 2026, was a gathering of some misinformed veterans in Lagos State,” he said.
Wolimoh blamed the misinformation on Mr Philip Adedokun, a retired warrant officer and former serviceman, who is also contesting for the state chairmanship.
He explained that only the national chairman of the Legion, based in Abuja, had the authority to issue directives for such a verification exercise.
According to him, he contacted the national chairman, who confirmed that no verification exercise had been authorised for November 2.
Wolimoh further denied allegations of financial mismanagement involving proceeds from the sale of Legion emblems, saying all income generated was presented to the council’s executives for deliberation and decisions on its utilisation.
He disclosed that the Lagos State Council election, earlier scheduled for Monday, November 9, had been postponed due to technicalities, adding that a new date would be communicated to members.
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The chairman urged members to avoid actions capable of creating division within the organisation, stressing that the Legion was established to promote comradeship among ex-servicemen and improve the welfare of veterans and their families.
He also encouraged registered members to familiarise themselves with the Nigerian Legion Act and participate actively in activities at their respective local government councils.
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