By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Hon. Engr. Dolapo Bashiru, former Secretary to the Local Government and a leading contender for the Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Chairmanship, has been confirmed to have withdrawn from the race ahead of the 2025 local government elections.
His absence from the list of aspirants who signed a petition against the purported third-term bid of the incumbent Chairman, Princess Samiat Bada, had raised questions following a world press conference by a group known as the Coalition of All 2025 Chairmanship Aspirants in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA.
The coalition, comprising 15 aspirants under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), publicly declared opposition to Bada’s reported attempt at securing a third term in office. However, Bashiru’s name was noticeably missing among the signatories.
A reliable party source familiar with the development told this reporter that Bashiru had officially withdrawn from the chairmanship race prior to the coalition’s press conference and ahead of the party’s set deadline.
“Hon. Bashiru stepped down from the race in line with the directives from the party leadership. However, he has not endorsed the incumbent chairman or her re-election bid,” the source clarified.
With this clarification, Bashiru’s withdrawal appears to be a strategic compliance with internal party dynamics, though it distances him from both the coalition’s protest and Bada’s controversial bid.
The APC has formally announced its flagbearer for the Ikosi-Isheri LCDA chairmanship election.