As the tenure of the current local government administration winds down, tension is building across Lagos State political landscape.
The race to occupy chairmanship and councillorship positions in the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) has thrown political parties, aspirants, and their sponsors into frenzy.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) recently issued the official Notice of Election, setting July 12, 2025, as the date for the polls, with a possible re-run slated for July 19.
Meanwhile, campaigns had officially commenced on April 18 and would run through July 9.
The LASIEC announcement has ignited a flurry of campaign activity, particularly in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where aspirants’ posters now blanket the metropolis.
The APC primaries to pick its candidate hold on Saturday.
However, beyond the campaign buzz lies growing controversy, especially over alleged candidate impositions and unclear electoral guidelines.
The controversy, it was gathered, stemmed as a result of the need to plant loyal and influential candidates in place ahead of the 2027 general elections to avoid the shocking experience of the 2023 presidential poll where Labour Party’s candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, defeated then-APC standard bearer, Bola Tinubu, in the state.
The controversy, it was gathered, stemmed as a result of the need to plant loyal and influential candidates in place ahead of the 2027 general elections to avoid the shocking experience of the 2023 presidential poll where Labour Party’s candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, defeated then-APC standard bearer, Bola Tinubu, in the state.
In other to maintain the current lead as a ruling party, there is the need to have the right candidates in place to make it easier not only for the presidential and gubernatorial polls but for other elective positions,” a party chieftain told Sunday Vanguard.
‘Baba Sope’ Politics
Some party faithful are worried over the return of what they described as ‘Baba Sope’ politics.
Baba Sope is imposition of candidates in local parlance.
Accusations of political godfatherism and imposition within the APC reached a head following the endorsement of Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, son of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, for chairmanship of Agege LGA.
The endorsement triggered protests, particularly in Ojokoro LCDA, where angry party members and youths disrupted a stakeholders’ meeting over what they described as an attempt to impose an outsider.
Placards with messages like, ‘Obasa should not impose a chairman on us from Agege’, and, ‘You can’t bring a stranger to lead us’, reflected the deep resentment among the party supporters.
“We reject any attempt to sideline loyal party members who have served this council,” said Mr. Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye, one of the protest leaders. “Let everyone test their strength at the primaries.”
Similarly, Mrs. Bola Ojetayo, another protester, decried what she termed the commercialization of leadership: “A stranger should not come to our home and be allowed to lead us”.
