By Dansu, Peter Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed that the forthcoming 2025 local government elections in the state wi...
By Dansu, Peter
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed that the forthcoming 2025 local government elections in the state will take place across 57 councils, comprising 20 constitutionally recognized local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs).
The governor made this declaration today during an interview with Television Continental (TVC) Breakfast Show, aligning with the earlier position of Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State. Ojelabi had previously emphasized the party's commitment to conducting elections in all 57 councils, a long-standing practice in Lagos since the creation of LCDAs.
Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated the state’s stance, stating, "The elections will proceed as planned in all 57 councils, which include the local government areas and local council development areas. This is a reflection of our commitment to grassroots governance and inclusion."
However, the matter has sparked a constitutional debate. The Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has countered the position, insisting that local government elections should only be conducted in the 20 constitutionally recognized local government areas.
Gbajabiamila, a legal luminary and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, argued, “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes only 20 local governments in Lagos State. Any other arrangement must align with constitutional provisions.”
The conflicting positions have reignited discussions on the status of LCDAs and their recognition under Nigerian law. While Lagos State has consistently organized elections in the 57 councils since the creation of LCDAs in 2003, the federal government has yet to formally recognize the additional 37 councils.
As the 2025 elections draw closer, stakeholders and legal experts are expected to weigh in on the constitutional implications, with some calling for a resolution to the decades-long legal ambiguity surrounding the LCDAs.
The development is likely to shape the political landscape in Lagos, particularly within the APC, as the party navigates internal and external reactions to its electoral strategy.
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