APC Local Council Chairmanship Candidates Emerge in Lagos Primaries
Contested Local Government Primaries in Lagos for APC Result in Four Potential Chairpersons
The heated competition for chairmanship positions in four local council development areas (LCDA) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State took a turn as consensus candidates were chosen. This move came as part of the APC's preparations for the July 12 Local Government elections in the state.
Here's the rundown on the four consensus candidates and the areas they'll be representing:
- Isa Jubril for Iba LCDA
- Motunrayo Gbadebo for Ijede LCDA
- Rasaq Kasali for Lekki LCDA
- Azeez Kareem for Otto Awori LCDA
These candidates emerged through a collaborative effort to minimize conflict and create a more united front.
In other local government areas, the primaries are still underway at the Ikeja party secretariat, as delegates decide on their representatives for the remaining council areas.
During his address to the delegates before voting began, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, stressed the gravity of the exercise. He pointed out that the entire nation was watching the primaries closely and advised the delegates to maintain a peaceful environment.
"We take this exercise very seriously. Our president, who is our leader and father, is monitoring us from Abuja. This is his state, and you know he takes the people at the grassroots very seriously. That's why all of us must be patient," Hamzat said.
However, he warned against any disruptions, stating, "In Lagos, it is APC that is still existing; the umbrella (of the PDP) is torn, so we should not play into the hands of outsiders (the opposition)."
The Chair of the Lagos APC Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala, detailed the voting procedures. As confirmed, delegates from local governments with a single candidate would first affirm their candidates. Following this, voting for councils with multiple aspirants would take place.
In the lead-up to this, accreditation was reported to occur smoothly, and some local governments had already agreed on their candidates internally. Ogala noted, "Some local governments seem to have done their process at home; we will take them first so that they affirm and depart."
Aspirants were reminded to withdraw their candidacies if they wished, and delegates were encouraged to exit the venue after voting to maintain order and avoid overcrowding.
Insights
The ongoing APC local government primaries in Lagos State aim to unite the party as they prepare for the 2025 local government elections. The party leadership emphasizes the importance of maintaining peace and unity among its members. Additionally, out of the 470 aspirants vying for chairmanship positions, 432 were cleared by the APC electoral committee, with 38 being disqualified or choosing to withdraw from the race.
- Tinubu, being a crucial figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), is undoubtedly following the Lagos state primaries closely as the leader and father of the party.
- The National Union of Nigeria (Naija) is paying close attention to the ongoing local government primaries within the APC, as it is the ruling party in Abuja.
- Delegates from the Ikeja party secretariat are currently deciding on their representatives for the remaining council areas in the APC local government primaries.
- The ongoing APC primaries in Lagos State serve as a preparatory step for the 2025 local government elections.
- In the lead-up to the general elections, maintaining peace and unity among members is emphasized as an essential APC policy-and-legislation priority.
- Aspirants who wish to withdraw their candidacies prior to the voting process are encouraged to do so to streamline the selection process.
- The Chair of the Lagos APC Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala, has ensured that accreditation occurs smoothly as part of the election protocol.
- Some local governments have already agreed on their candidates internally and will be the first to affirm and depart after the voting process is completed.
- Car-accidents, fires, crime-and-justice, and sports-related news are amongst the topics trending in the general-news sphere, but the local APC primaries, particularly football and sports-betting within European-leagues, seems to be a major focus for coverage.
- Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, has cautioned delegates against creating any disruptions during the primaries to avoid playing into the hands of the opposition.
- As part of the APC's strategy, the chairmanship positions have been chosen through a collaborative effort to foster unity and minimize conflict across the various local council development areas (LCDA).
- Migration from the opposition, People's Democratic Party (PDP), is not expected given the powerful presence of the APC across war-and-conflicts domains in Lagos State.
- Despite the heated competition, the primaries have been running without major interruptions or incidents, which demonstrates the importance of upholding political order and cohesion in maintaining a stable society.
