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Akinlade John
As preparations for the local government election in Lagos State swings into full gear, the state’s ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC) has officially presented party flags to its 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship candidates for the July 12 local government elections. front-page.com.ng reports.
This is coming on the heels of the party’s contentious primary elections and gale of petitions that greeted the exercise.
The flags presentation event, which was held on Tuesday, 17 June, 2025 at the party’s State Secretariat, Ogba , and doubled as the kicked-off event for the local government councils election campaigns also witnessed flags presentation to the party’s vice chairmanship and councillorship candidates.
Speaking at the event through his representative, Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the State Government, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, assured the candidates of his unwavering support to emerge victorious in the local government election.
“The love I have for this party is unquantifiable. I am with all the candidates. This is not just an official flag-off; it symbolises the beginning of hard work and dedication.
“We are solidly behind every aspirant. We are all in this together, and we will be successful by God’s grace.
“As we raise these flags today, we are proud and happy. Let us remember our values and principles; we are known for being a progressive movement.
“We are not only here to win an election; we are here to change the lives of our people and continue the legacy of our president.
“We must deliver all our promises to the people. Do all you can as party faithful to ensure victory for this party.” Sanwo-Olu advised.
In his speech, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, the Chairman, Governance Advisory Council (GAC), urged the party’s flag bearers to work for the people when elected.
“Youths should be on stage now and do the work of the party, because at the moment you are not at the forefront yet.
“This is an opportunity for you to promote the name of our party. It is sad today that those looking for money are many in politics and not people who really want to serve.
“The love of our community and society should be paramount to us. Those who vied for the ticket but could not get it should be patient because there is still time and tomorrow,” Olusi said.
He urged the youth to embark on aggressive grassroot mobilisations and canvas for votes from street to streets to ensure the party’s victory.
He pointed out the imperative of grassroots governance, a represented by local government administration, hence the need for all office holders to diligently attend to the people’s needs with impactful policies and projects.
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, pleaded with all party members to accept the decisions of the party and support the party candidates.
“The party is supreme, we must stand by the decision of the party. We must obey the party and support all our candidates. We must not fight ourselves.
“The election is a testing ground to return President Bola Tinubu in 2027 with bulky votes,” Obasa declared.
Presenting the flags to the candidates alongside other leaders, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, the State APC Chairman, applauded party leaders and aspirants for ensuring peace before, during and after the primaries.
Ojelabi, who noted that the party had done a lot to reconcile aggrieved aspirants, urged flag bearers to continue reconciliation and winning those that contested against them to their sides.
According to him, out of the 475 aspirants that vied for chairmanship tickets, only 57 chairmanship candidates were finally selected.
He urged the candidates to try to meet the needs of the people in education, health, infrastructure development, youth development and other critical areas if elected.
He said that the party would continue to monitor the performance of all its elected officers.
“It is a real election. We are going all out in this election. “Let us reach out, knock at the doors and solicit support,” Ojelabi said.
The Chairman of the APC Campaign Committee Alhaji Babatunde Balogun in his remarks, welcomed the candidates and expressed his confidence that all the flag bearers would be victorious at the polls.
Balogun, urged the party’s campaign Local Organising Committee (LOC) in each council area to commence rigorous mobilisation of voters, however, cautioned that no campaign should exceed the July 9 deadline stipulated in the electoral guidelines.
“This election is local and at the grassroots, so we need to campaign vigorously at the ward level. There is no limit to the campaign. Let the LOC work assiduously to ensure victory for the election,” he stated.
According to him, the LOC should be co-chaired in each council by the APC LGA chairman and the council chairmen.
“The LOC must work with various groups, including ethnic nationalities, ‘so that we can achieve great results. Let us move across all the wards and garner votes for the party.”
The chairmanship candidates who received party flags included Azeez Babatunde (Agege), Idowu Akinola (Orile-Agege), Johnson Akinpelu (Alimosho), Adunni Akindele (Mosan Okunola), Lukman Abiodun (Ayobo-Ipaja), Abiodun Ejigbadero (Agbado Oke-Odo) and Idris Balogun (Egbe-Idimu).
Ayinde Akinsanya (Ikotun-Igando); Usman Hamzat (Ifako-Ijaiye); Oluyemisi Rosiji (Ojokoro); Akeem Dauda (Ikeja); Moyosore Adebanjo (Onigbongbo); Segun Odunmbaku (Ojodu); Tunbosun Aruwe (Mushin); Seyi Jakande (Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye); Kehinde Oloyede-Almaroof (Oshodi).
Others are Babatunde Hunpe (Badadry Central), Rauf Yemaren (Badagry West), Ajose Kumayon, Azeez Kareem (Oto-Awori), Isa Abiola (Iba), Adebayo Olasoju (Isolo), Taoreed Taiwo (Ejigbo), Muhibat Adeyemi (Ojo), Idowu Senbanjo (Apapa); Jimoh Olawale (Apapa Iganmu); Adeola Adetoro (Eti-Osa); Biliaminu Agunbiade (Eti-Osa East); Kolawole Emilagba (Lagos Mainland); Taiwo Oyekan (Lagos Island); Bola Oladunjoye (Ikoyi-Obalende); Aminat Alabi (Iru Victoria Island); Muibi Folawiyo (Lagos Island East) and Sulaiman Bamidele (Surulere).
Abdullahi Olowa (Ibeju-Lekki); Rasak Kasali (Lekki); Adedayo Ladega (Ikorodu Central); Ogidan Owolabi (Coker Aguda); Odunayo Oluwafemi (Itire-Ikate); Bayo Adefuye (Yaba); Surah Animashaun (Epe); Wale Anomo (Ikosi-Ejinrin); Ismail Akinloye (Eredo); Ameen Olawale (Ikorodu North); and Sulaiman Kazeem (Ikorodu West) were also presented with the party’s Flags
Others are Adetola Abubakar (Agboyi-Ketu); Dammy Bada Ikosi-Isheri; Sunday Benson (Imota); Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba (Ijede); Hammed Aroyewun (Igbogbo Bayeku); Moyo Ogunlewe (Kosofe); Lateef Ashimi (Somolu) and Adedeji Omope (Bariga).
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