With preparations in full swing for the July 12, 2025, Local Government Elections in Lagos State, the Electoral Committee of the All Progressives Congress has released the official list of cleared Chairmanship aspirants, approving 432 contenders for the party’s forthcoming primary elections.
The release follows a screening exercise conducted at the party’s secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, from Tuesday, April 29 to Friday, May 3.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission had earlier scheduled the elections into Chairmanship positions and 376 Councillorship seats across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.
The Electoral Committee is chaired by Babatunde Ogala, a former National Legal Adviser of the APC and ex-member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He is supported by Mr. Babarinde Nurudeen as Secretary.
According to the party, the committee is empowered to oversee all internal processes leading up to the conduct of elections across the 57 councils.
Out of 470 aspirants screened for the Chairmanship race, 432 were cleared to participate in the May 10 primaries, while 38 were either disqualified or voluntarily withdrew. Among the withdrawals was Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, son of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. He reportedly stepped down following a directive from President Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the APC.
The committee stated that most of the disqualifications were due to issues such as the absence of Permanent Voter Cards, lack of valid APC membership cards, and presentation of falsified secondary school certificates.
Per the APC guidelines, the party will conduct indirect primaries where executive members across all LGAs and LCDAs will vote for their preferred Chairmanship candidates on Saturday, May 10.
Disqualified aspirants may appeal their status between Sunday, May 4 and Monday, May 5. Additionally, petitions regarding the outcome of the primaries may be submitted to the Appeal Committee between May 12 and 13.
Speaking on the exercise, Babatunde Ogala said: “The screening exercise was thorough, rigorous and challenging.” He also expressed confidence in the cleared aspirants, stating that they “possess the capacity to deliver quality governance at the grassroots level if elected.”
According to a gender breakdown released by the committee, of the 470 aspirants screened, 411 were male and 59 female—an indication of growing female participation in local politics and the party’s attention to gender inclusivity.
Meanwhile, political developments in Ojokoro LCDA took a dramatic turn as the council’s APC apex leaders reaffirmed their support for Mobolaji Sanusi as their consensus Chairmanship candidate.
In a letter dated May 3, 2025, addressed to the APC State Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, the leaders submitted what they described as the “authentic list” of Chairmanship aspirants and emphasised Sanusi’s endorsement.
The letter, titled “Clarification and Submission of Authentic List Signed by Majority of Approved Ojokoro Apex Leaders for Mobolaji Sanusi’s Adoption as Chairmanship Consensus Candidate,” was signed by prominent leaders including Ipoola Omisore (two-term member, Lagos State House of Assembly) and Adisa Owolabi (immediate past member, House of Representatives).
It read in part, “Consequent upon our letter of yesterday (Friday, May 2, 2025) on above subject matter, kindly find attached the original list of authentic leaders that voluntarily signed for the adoption of Mr. Mobolaji Sanusi as CONSENSUS Candidate of our dear APC party in the upcoming local government elections.
“The names of Ojokoro leaders herein attached overleaf for purposes of dispelling any doubts and for our party’s necessary information are:
“Hon. Ipoola Omisore (two-term member, Lagos State House of Assembly), Chief Oluyomi Olaogun (an octogenarian and politician of note in Ojokoro and Lagos State), Otunba Aremu Akindele (pioneer chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government), Hon. Adisa Owolabi (immediate past member, House of Representatives),
“Hon. Emmanuel Olotu (incumbent member of the Lagos State House of Assembly), Hon. Jelili Oseni (former councillor and incumbent APC LG Chairman in Ojokoro), Dr. Waheel Adeleke Ipaye (former Sole Administrator of Ojokoro LCDA),
“Prince Adewale Bello (immediate past APC LG chairman in Ojokoro), Alhaji Aminu Amosun (former APC LG Chairman in Ojokoro), Dr. Idris Salako (former commissioner in Lagos State), and Hon. HID Tijani (incumbent chairman of Ojokoro LCDA).”
This renewed endorsement follows an earlier letter submitted by the apex leaders on May 2 dismissing a purported list from a minority faction, which had circulated a different set of names as the council’s final ratified aspirants.
