As the 2025 local government elections approach, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State is earnestly awaiting direction from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The president’s anticipated Christmas holiday in Lagos presents an opportunity for him to address the brewing controversies surrounding the election’s mode, scope, and administration.
At the heart of the matter is a growing debate about whether the elections will only be conducted in the 20 constitutionally recognized Local Government Areas (LGAs), excluding the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) created by the state.
There are also indications that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), rather than the Lagos State Electoral Commission, might conduct the polls, further fueling uncertainty.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has sought to clarify matters by conducting a public hearing on the proposed dissolution of the LCDAs in alignment with a Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy.
The Assembly proposed replacing elected chairmen in the LCDAs with administrative secretaries appointed by the governor.
However, this explanation has failed to allay the concerns of Lagosians.
During the public hearing, attendees overwhelmingly opposed the dissolution of the LCDAs, emphasizing their importance in driving grassroots development.
The controversy has left APC members, council chairmen, and aspirants in a state of uncertainty, awaiting guidance from President Tinubu.
President Tinubu, who remains the APC’s most influential figure in Lagos, is expected to arrive in Lagos on Tuesday, December 24, for a week-long holiday.
Sources close to the presidency suggest that his top priority during the visit will be to resolve the lingering issues surrounding the local government elections and consolidate his political base.
“Lagos is critical to the president,” a source in Abuja disclosed. “He doesn’t want to lose his grip on his political stronghold. The upcoming local government elections are a major concern, and the president is expected to provide clarity and direction when he arrives.”
Party loyalists and stakeholders believe that Tinubu’s intervention will provide the much-needed resolution to the controversies surrounding the elections.
As Lagosians prepare for the festive season, all eyes remain fixed on the president, whose decisions during his holiday could shape the political future of the state.
