In preparation for the July 12th Lagos State Local Government election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suggested that its candidates for the chairmanship and councillorship elections may be selected through a consensus-based process, involving party leaders, aspirants, and members from the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, but if disagreements arise, primaries will be held, as scheduled on May 10th, 2025.
Mr. Babatunde Ogala (SAN), Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee for the Councils Elections, made the announcement on Wednesday during a stakeholders meeting at the State Secretariat of the party.
He stated that adopting consensus lists for both councillor and chairman seats will ensure a rancour-free primary exercise and sustain unity among Lagos APC members.
He emphasized that uniting on candidate lists will facilitate the party’s victory in all elective seats during the state’s polls, observing that while there are 57 councils, the number of aspirants surpasses 400, and not all can serve.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria pointed out that if consensus cannot be reached, primaries will be conducted.
Addressing party stakeholders, the State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hazmat, said that consensus was not new in the party.
He urged aspirants to give concessions to allow the emergence of best candidates.
Hazmat said, “Let us do it the way we have been doing it. It is consensus. We apportion things to ourselves.”
Also speaking, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman, Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in the state, said that with over 500 chairmanship aspirants, there was the need to adopt consensus to pick candidates.
“It has become imperative for all of us to support and cooperate with the party. Five persons cannot occupy a single seat.
“We have in some places where 12 aspirants contesting a councillorship seat. We should take things easy, talk to ourselves and concede to one another.
“We should seek continuous peace and progress of the party. Conceding to one another is not new in our party. We should embrace it,” Olusi said.
