The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday officially presented party flags to its 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship candidates for the July 12 local government election.
The APC also launched its campaign for the council at the event held at the APC Secretariat, Ogba.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu Hundeyin, assured the candidates of the government’s support to help them emerge victorious at the polls.
“The love I have for this party is unquantifiable. I am with all the candidates; this is not just an official flag-off, it symbolises the beginning of hard work and dedication.
“We are solidly behind every aspirant, we are in this together, and all will be successful by God’s 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 to ensure victory for this party,” Sanwo-Olu said.
It was gathered that the Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, urged the party’s flag bearers to work for the people when elected.
“This is an opportunity for you to promote the name of our party. It is sad today that those looking for money are many in politics and not people who want to serve,” he said.
Olusi pleaded with aggrieved party members to be patient, adding that more opportunities would still come.
“The love of our community and society should be paramount to us. Those who vied for the ticket but could not get it should be patient, because there is still time and tomorrow,” Olusi said.
Olusi asked youth to form clubs and rally support for the party in various streets.
He emphasised the importance of grassroots governance and the role of local government officials in positively impacting people.
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, who mentioned that everyone must accept the decisions of the party at all times, 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 amongst ourselves.
“The election is a testing ground to return President Bola Tinubu in 2027 with a large majority,” Obasa said.
Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, the state APC Chairman, handed off the flags to candidates alongside other leaders and praised party leaders and aspirants for maintaining peace before, during, and after the primary.
Ojelabi, who noted that the party has done a lot to reconcile disgruntled aspirants, advised flag bearers to continue the process and win over those who ran against them.
According to him, only 57 of the 475 applicants who competed for chairmanship seats were eventually chosen.
He urged the candidates to work to address the people’s needs in education, health, infrastructure development, youth development, and other vital sectors if elected.
He stated that the party would continue to monitor the performance of all of its elected officers.
“It is a real election. We are going all out in this election. “Let us reach out, knock on doors, and solicit support,” Ojelabi said.
Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, Chairman of the APC Campaign Committee, welcomed the candidates and expressed confidence that all of them would win at the polls.
Balogun urged the party’s campaign local organising committee in each council area to begin intensive voter mobilisation but warned that no campaign should exceed the June 9 deadline set by the election laws.
“This election is local and at the grassroots, so we need to campaign vigorously at the ward level. There is no limit to the campaign. “Let the LOC work tirelessly to ensure victory in the election,” he said.
According to the APC chieftain, the LOC should be co-chaired in each council by the APC LGA chairman and the council chairman.
“The LOC must work with various groups, including ethnic nationalities, so that we can achieve great results. Let us move across all the wards and garner votes for the party.”
