By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has cleared 432 aspirants to contest the forthcoming Local Government Chairmanship Elections scheduled for July 12, 2025.
This was disclosed in an official statement released on Saturday by the party’s Electoral Committee, which concluded the screening and vetting process for all aspirants seeking to contest in the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas across the state.
According to the committee, a total of 470 individuals applied to contest the chairmanship positions under the APC platform, but 38 were disqualified for various reasons, including lack of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), invalid or non-existent APC membership records, and submission of fake or questionable academic credentials.
A senior official of the APC Electoral Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the party’s leadership is determined to ensure transparency, credibility, and integrity in the electoral process.
“We are guided by the principle that leadership begins with personal responsibility. Any aspirant who cannot provide basic documentation like a voter’s card or valid membership certificate does not meet the minimum requirement to represent our party,” the official stated.
The committee stressed that the screening process was not only in compliance with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) guidelines, but also in line with the APC’s constitution and internal regulations.
Reacting to the development, some disqualified aspirants have expressed dissatisfaction, alleging bias and inconsistency in the screening criteria. However, party officials have maintained that the process was fair and that affected aspirants have the right to appeal through the designated channels within the party structure.
Political observers have noted that the APC’s decision to publicly announce both successful and unsuccessful aspirants may be a move to rebuild public trust in the local electoral process, which has often been marred by internal wrangling and allegations of imposition.
The Lagos APC spokesperson, Mr. Seye Oladejo, said the party remains committed to grassroots development and internal democracy.
“We believe in strengthening our democracy from the ground up. These elections are not just about who occupies the chairmanship seats; they are about ensuring competent and credible leadership at the local level,” Oladejo said.
The local government elections, seen as a litmus test of the APC’s organizational strength in Lagos ahead of the 2027 general elections, are expected to witness intense competition not only among APC candidates but also from opposition parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other emerging grassroots political movements.
Meanwhile, LASIEC has affirmed its readiness to conduct a free and fair election, urging all political parties and stakeholders to comply with electoral laws and promote peaceful campaigns.
