Taoreed Abdullahi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State on Saturday conducted its Chairmanship Primary Election ahead of the July 12 Local Government polls.
The primaries, held under tight security at the APC Secretariat in ACME, Ikeja, produced candidates for 19 Local Government Areas and 36 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). However, delegates from Lagos Mainland LGA and Yaba LCDA did not participate due to a reported misunderstanding.
Each council area was represented by around 30 delegates who voted via open secret ballot, with officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) on hand to monitor proceedings. Votes were openly sorted and counted at the respective council areas.
Chairman of the APC State Electoral Committee, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, while addressing party faithful, urged aggrieved aspirants to seek redress through the party’s electoral tribunal and to refrain from violence. He commended security agencies and the media for their professionalism, noting that the party had established a platform for complaints.
Some of the declared Chairmanship candidates include:
Sulaimon Yusuf – Surulere LGA
Tunbosun Aruwe – Mushin LGA
Babatunde Azeez – Agege LGA
Akeem Dauda – Ikeja LGA
Akinpelu Ibrahim – Alimosho LGA
Taiwo Oyekan – Lagos Island
Muibat Rufai – Ojo LGA
Sanusi Ismail – Amuwo-Odofin LGA
Samsudeen Agunbiade – Eti-Osa LGA
Babatunde Hunpe – Badagry LGA
Sura Animashahun – Epe LGA
Other candidates also emerged from several LCDAs, including:
Sesan Olowa – Ibeju-Lekki LGA
Kehinde Oloyede – Oshodi-Isolo LGA
Samiat Bolanle-Bada – Ikosi-Isheri
Olasoju Adebayo – Isolo
Wale Hameen – Ikorodu North
Taorid Taiwo – Ejigbo
Alade Muibi – Lagos Island East
Tola Oyedele – Agboyi-Ketu
Ogidan Azeez – Coker Aguda
Lakan Akindipe – Ajeromi Ifelodun
Olufemi Okeowo – Ifelodun
Oluyemisi Rosiji – Ojokoro
Usman Hamzat – Ifako Ijaiye
Ibrahim Rauf – Badagry West
Rasaq Olojede – Oriade
Additional aspirants include:
Adedayo Ladega – Ikorodu
Akinola Abiodun – Orile Agege
Asimi Lateef – Somolu
Sulaimon Kazeem – Ikorodu West
Ismiol Monsuru – Eredo
Akindele Opeyemi – Mosan Okunola
Agbaje Abiodun – Ayobo-Ipaja
Jimoh Olawale – Apapa Iganmu
Bukola Omope – Bariga
While some aspirants protested the outcome, alleging irregularities and manipulation, others accepted the results.
Earlier, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, commended the aspirants for their conduct and urged them to uphold peace and party unity. He emphasized the APC’s dominant position in Lagos and described the primary process as a model of transparency for other states to emulate.