Paragraph 1: APC’s Flag Presentation and Campaign Launch
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State officially launched its campaign for the July 12 local government elections, marked by a ceremony where party flags were presented to the 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship candidates. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, expressed unwavering support for the candidates, emphasizing the party’s commitment to their victory. He highlighted the significance of the event, not just as a campaign launch, but as a symbol of the hard work and dedication expected from the candidates.
Paragraph 2: Call for Service, Unity, and Grassroots Mobilization
Leaders within the APC stressed the importance of service to the people and unity within the party. Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council, urged the flag bearers to prioritize the needs of their communities and cautioned against the pursuit of personal gain in politics. He appealed for patience among aggrieved party members, emphasizing future opportunities for service. Olusi also called on the youth to actively mobilize support for the party at the grassroots level. Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, echoed the call for unity and emphasized the supremacy of the party’s decisions, urging all members to support the chosen candidates. He framed the local elections as a crucial step towards securing a resounding victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Paragraph 3: Reconciliation, Performance Monitoring, and Campaign Strategy
Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, the state APC Chairman, commended the party’s leadership and aspirants for maintaining peace throughout the primary process. He acknowledged the party’s efforts in reconciling aggrieved aspirants and urged the flag bearers to continue this reconciliation, fostering unity and inclusivity. Ojelabi emphasized the need for elected officials to address critical areas such as education, health, infrastructure, and youth development, assuring that the party would closely monitor their performance. He emphasized the seriousness of the election and called for proactive campaigning to secure victory.
Paragraph 4: Campaign Logistics and Grassroots Engagement
Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, Chairman of the APC Campaign Committee, expressed confidence in the candidates’ ability to win the election. He urged the Local Organising Committees (LOCs) in each council area to initiate aggressive voter mobilization while adhering to the stipulated campaign deadline. Balogun stressed the localized nature of the election, emphasizing the importance of grassroots campaigning at the ward level. He outlined the structure of the LOCs, recommending co-chairs comprising the APC LGA chairman and the council chairman in each council area. Balogun advocated for collaboration with diverse groups, including ethnic nationalities, to maximize voter turnout.
Paragraph 5: Allegations of Electoral Manipulation by LASIEC
Amidst the APC’s campaign launch, Ayodele Adio, the Youth Party candidate for Eti Osa Local Government, raised concerns about alleged manipulations by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). Adio accused LASIEC of compromising the electoral process through the late release of a misleading polling guide, claiming it was a deliberate attempt to disrupt free and fair elections. He criticized the short timeframe given to political parties for submitting party agents’ names, given the sudden changes in polling units. Furthermore, Adio accused LASIEC of exceeding its authority by attempting to delineate and distribute polling units, a function constitutionally reserved for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Paragraph 6: Ambiguity in Polling Unit Information and LASIEC’s Response
Adio also highlighted the lack of clarity in the naming and location of polling units, citing vague descriptions in the released guide. He argued that this ambiguity could lead to chaos and disenfranchisement on election day. Attempts to reach LASIEC spokesperson, Tope Ojo, for a response to these allegations were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. This raises questions about the transparency and integrity of the electoral process and the potential impact on the fairness of the upcoming local government elections.
