The history of the present Ikeja local government dates back to 1927 when the colonial government introduced tax collection. District officers where approved for Epe, Ikorodu and Ikeja (Ikeja then includes Mushin, Shomolu, Badagry and called colonies of Lagos). Ikeja colony comprised a number of isolated villages own exclusively by the Aworis.
The administration of Ikeja colony was carried out by the colonial masters, without any participation by natives, up Until March 1938. On April, 1938, sequel to agitations by some patriotic natives led by Archdeacon T.A.J. Ogunbiyi the colonies were changed to native authorities. This brought about a lot of improvement, as taxes collected were used to develop the area.
The Natives Authority system continued until 1955 when it metamorphosed into District Councils. In the year the first democratic election was held, Ikeja was later split into three Districts: Ikeja, Mushin and Shomolu. The Baale and the Council joint tax collection system were introduced.
The Baales were to collect-to-collect taxes from their subjects and pay to the Council. The same period witnessed the appointment of a secretary /Treasurer among the natives to administratively coordinate the affairs of the Councils. The present Alimosho Local Government was part of the Ikeja District Council. In 1971, as a result of Government‘s acceptance of the recommendations of the Ogunaike Commission, the former Agege District Council also became part of Ikeja.
During the Civilian era (1979-83) new Local Government authorizes were carved out of the Division viz Agege and Alimosho Local Government. However, the military administration in December 1983 nullified this action.
Further rationalization of Local Governments in Nigeria (in May 1989) led to the re-creation of Agege Local Government among others. Thus, there were four Local Government authorities within the Ikeja Division of Lagos State namely: Ikeja, Agege, Shomolu and Mushin.
In 1991, Alimosho Local Government was carved out of Ikeja Local Government. Consequently, the present Ikeja Local Government is now bounded on the North by Agege Local Government, South by Oshodi /Isolo/ Mushin Local Government, and East by Shomolu Local Government and on the West by Alimosho Local Government.
LIST OF PAST CHAIRMEN AND SOLE ADMINISTRATORS IN IKEJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
| SN | NAMES | POSITION | YEAR |
| 1 | CHIEF SUNDAY ISHOLA TALABI | CHAIRMAN | 1968-1974 |
| 2 | REV OPE –OLU ONI | CHAIRMAN | 1975-1976 |
| 3 | ALHAJI ADEMOLA SALAMI | CHAIRMAN | 1980-1983 |
| 4 | CHIEF Y. A. AJAO | CHAIRMAN | 1988-1989 |
| 5 | AKIN AJAYI | CHAIRMAN | MAY –AUG 1989 |
| 6 | ABAYOMI OLABODE-MORGAN | SOLE ADMINISTRATOR | 1 AUGUST 1989 |
| 7 | CHIEF MICHAEL ODEBUNMI | CHAIRMAN | |
| 8 | ALHAJI (CHIEF) ALANI OKIKIOPOSU | CHAIRMAN | 1991-1993 |
| 9 | CHIEF RUFUS IDOWU OLUWATAYO | CHAIRMAN ZERO PARTY | 1993-1994 |
| 10 | MRS EBUNOLUWA OLUFUNKE TALABI | SOLE ADMINISTRATOR | 1994-1996 (F) |
| 11 | ALHAJI NURUDEEN YUSUF | CHAIRMAN | 1996-1998 |
| 12 | MR FUNSI-O BAMGBOSE | SOLE ADMINISTRATOR | 1998-1999 |
| 13 | HON. TOYIN HAMZAT | CHAIRMAN | 1999-2002 |
| 14 | MRS RASHEEDAT OMOLOLA ESSIEN | CHAIRMAN CARETAKER COMMITEE | 2002- 2003 (F) |
| 15 | HON. WAHAB OWOKONIRAN | CHAIRMAN | 2003-2006 |
| 16 | HON. WALE ODUNLAMI | ACTING CHAIRMAN | 2006-2008 |
| 17 | MR NURUDEEN SALAMI | SOLE ADMINISTRATOR | 2008 |
| 18 | HON. WALE ODUNLAMI | CHAIRMAN | 2008-2011 |
| 19 | HON. WALE ODUNLAMI | CHAIRMAN | 2011-2014 |
| 20 | ALHAJI ADEKUNLE DALLY ADEOKUN | EXECUTIVE SECRETARY | 2015-2016 |
| 21 | ENGR TAIWO ABIODUN (SOLE ADMINISTRATOR) | SOLE ADMINISTRATOR | 2016-JULY 2017 |
| 22 | HON. (ENGR) MOJEED ALABI BALOGUN | EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN | JULY 2017-TO DATE |
According to this account, Ikeja was a founded by the Awori ancestors of Osoja, Amore, Maku, Afariogun and Kusheri Moses families under the leadership of the Olo with each family group settling in different but close quarters. The new settlement called Ikeja was named after Akeja- Onigorun one of the deities worshipped at their ancestral home in Otta.