by Joshua Timi
The APC in Lagos State on Tuesday officially presented party flags to its 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship candidates for the July 12 Local Government Elections.
The party also kicked off campaigns for the council at the event held at the APC State Secretariat, Ogba.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councilorship Candidates in the 20 Local Governments Councils, 37 Local Council Development Areas and the 377 wards emerged during its primaries on May 10.
Speaking at the event handling over ceremony, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mrs Abimbola Salu- Hundeyin the Secretary to the State Government, assured the flagbearers of support to emerge winners in the polls.
“The love I have for this group is unquantifiable, I am with all the candidates, this is not just an official flag off, it’s symbolises the beginning of hardworking and dedication.
“We are solidly behind every aspirant, we are in this together, all will be successful by Gods 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,” Sanwo-Olu said.
According to him, the strength of the Lagos government and nation at large is from the contributions “of you all, let’s leave a legacy our generations to come will be proud of.”
Speaking, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, the Chairman, Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State, who noted he had been a councillors as far back as 1962, urged party flagbearers 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 an opportunity for you to promote the name of our party. It is sad today that those looking for money are many in politics today, 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 get it, should be patient because there is still time and tomorrow,” Olusi said.
He urged the youth to mobilise and divide themselves into groups and move into different streets to mobilise support for the party, “if we do it, our party will have no failure.”
According to him, grassroots governance remains critical, hence the need for the occupiers to take care of the people and do something remarkable.
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, who noted that everyone must accept whatever the party had decided, urged all to support 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 returns President Bola Tinubu in 2027 with bulky votes,” Obasa said.
Handling over the flags to candidates along side other leaders, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, the Lagos State APC Chairman, applauded party leaders and aspirants for ensure peace before, during and after the primaries.
Ojelabi, who noted that the party had done enough reconciling aggrieved aspirants, urged flagbearers to continue the work of 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 when elected to assess the need of the people in the area of education, health, infrastructure development and youth development to support efforts of Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu.
He said that the party would continue to monitor and annually assess the performance of all its elected officers.
“It is a real election, we are going all out into this election. Let us reach out, knock at the doors and solicit for support,” Ojelabi said.
In his remark, the Chairman of APC Campaign Committee, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, who welcomed the candidates, expressed confidence that all the flagbearers would be victorious at the polls.
Balogun, who urged the party’s campaign Local Organising Committee (LOC) in each council area to start rigorous mobilisation of voters, however cautioned that all campaigns must stop on June 9.
“This election is local and at the grassroots, so we need to campaign vigorously at the ward level. There is no limit to campaign. Let the LOC work tiredlessly to ensure victory for the election,” he said.
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 a 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).
Adebayo Olasoju (Isolo), Taoreed Taiwo (Ejigbo); Babatunde Hunpe (Badadry Central); Rauf Yemaren (Badagry West); Ajose Kumayon); Azeez Kareem (Oto-Awori); Isa Abiola (Iba); Muhibat Adeyemi (Ojo); Rasak Oloyede (Oriade); Lanre Sanusi (Amuwo-Odofin); Olufemi Okeowo (Ifelodun) and Olalekan Akindipe (Ajeromi).
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).
Ogidan Owolabi (Coker Aguda); Odunayo Oluwafemi (Itire-Ikate); Bayo Adefuye (Yaba); Surah Animashaun (Epe); Wale Anomo ( Ikosi-Ejinrin); Ismail Akinloye (Eredo); Abdullahi Olowa ( Ibeju-Lekki); Rasak Kasali (Lekki); Adedayo Ladega (Ikorodu Central); Ameen Olawale (Ikorodu North) and Sulaiman Kazeem( Ikorodu West).
Others are: Sunday Benson (Imota); Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba (Ijede); Hammed Aroyewun (Igbogbo Bayeku); Moyo Ogunlewe (Kosofe); Adetola Abubakar (Agboyi-Ketu); Dammy Bada Ikosi-Isheri); Lateef Ashimi (Somolu) and Adedeji’ Omope (Bariga).
The party also handed over flags to all the vice chairmanship and councillorship candidates.
The flag-off ceremony was witnessed by party chieftains, elected and appointed officials of the party across the three tiers of government.
