…Flags presented to 57 chairmanship, 376 councillorship candidates
…Party leaders call for unity, grassroots mobilisation to ensure victory
By Sodiq Adelakun
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pledged total support for all All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates contesting the upcoming local government elections in Lagos State, scheduled for July 12.
Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the governor made the assurance on Tuesday during the official campaign flag-off held at the APC state secretariat in Ogba.
Sanwo-Olu said the campaign launch marks the beginning of a unified and determined effort toward securing victory at the polls. He affirmed that every candidate would receive the party’s full backing, reaffirming the APC’s goal not only to win elections but to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of residents across local communities.
The governor encouraged candidates to remain faithful to the APC’s progressive ideals, keep to their campaign promises, and honour the legacy of President Bola Tinubu.
At the event, party flags were formally handed over to 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship candidates representing the 57 local government and local council development areas.
APC State Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, disclosed that 475 aspirants competed for the party’s chairmanship tickets, from which only 57 were selected. He said the party had worked diligently to resolve internal disputes and reconcile aggrieved aspirants following the primaries.
He urged the party’s candidates to maintain close contact with fellow aspirants who were not selected, noting the importance of unity ahead of the polls. Ojelabi warned that the performance of elected officials would be closely monitored, stressing that their priorities must include education, healthcare, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
Describing the elections as significant, he advised candidates to begin aggressive grassroots mobilisation through street-to-street and door-to-door engagement.
Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, urged candidates to serve the people selflessly and warned young people not to view politics as a vehicle for financial gain. He encouraged youth within the party to mobilise at the grassroots and help promote the APC’s policies and programmes.
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, advised party members to remain loyal and accept the decisions of the leadership. He described the forthcoming elections as a crucial test for the APC’s strength ahead of President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
Campaign Committee Chairman, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, instructed local organising committees to begin intensive house-to-house mobilisation across all wards. He reminded candidates and organisers of the official campaign deadline of June 9 and cautioned against disorganised or last-minute efforts.
Balogun stated that each council’s local campaign committee must be jointly led by the APC local government chairman and the council chairman and should actively engage all ethnic and community-based groups.
The campaign flag-off was attended by senior party figures, elected officials, and government appointees from federal, state, and local levels.
Among the chairmanship flag recipients were Azeez Babatunde (Agege), Adetola Abubakar (Agboyi-Ketu), Moyo Ogunlewe (Kosofe), Surah Animashaun (Epe), Bayo Adefuye (Yaba), Dammy Bada (Ikosi-Isheri), Adedeji Omope (Bariga), and Rasak Oloyede (Oriade), along with several others. Party flags were also distributed to all vice-chairmanship and councillorship candidates.