By Bilesanmi Abayomi
With less than 24 hours to the July 12 local government elections in Lagos State, political tension remains high in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) as the coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship aspirants has rejected reported offers of compensation from the party leadership.
Sources within the APC told KosofePost that efforts were made by party leaders in the state to appease aggrieved aspirants through undisclosed inducements following internal disputes over the legality of the incumbent Chairman, Princess Samiat Bada’s candidacy. However, the coalition members turned down the offer, demanding full compliance with the Lagos State Local Government Administration Law of 2025.
At the heart of the controversy is Executive Order No. 6, which delayed the commencement of the newly signed Local Government Administration Law from its original start date of May 5 to August 4, 2025. The executive action effectively rendered Bada eligible to contest in the upcoming election—sparking outrage among legal experts, civil society organisations, and members of the APC coalition, who argue that such an alteration bypasses legislative authority.
Legal practitioners backing the coalition have insisted that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu lacks the constitutional power to unilaterally amend the effective date of a law already passed and assented to, without due process from the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Despite the controversy, both camps are intensifying last-minute campaign activities. While Samiat Bada continues to hold rallies and engagements with key stakeholders, the coalition has ramped up grassroots mobilisation, vowing to uphold democratic integrity and legal accountability.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has affirmed that all candidates cleared for the election remain eligible unless disqualified by a competent court of law. As voters head to the polls, Ikosi-Isheri remains a flashpoint to watch in what promises to be a politically charged election day.