With less than a week until the Lagos State local council elections on Saturday, July 12, 2025, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) is grappling with internal challenges that could affect the turnout of some party members at the polls. Despite a robust campaign effort across Lagos, including a mega rally in Kosofe featuring Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Nollywood stars like Foluke Daramola, the party’s ability to present a united front in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA remains uncertain as the election approaches.
Disgruntled members of the coalition of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA aspirants emerged from discontent during the APC’s May 2025 primary election, where 14 aspirants, including incumbent Samiat Bada and Toyin Balogun, competed for the chairmanship ticket. Samiat Bada secured the nomination, but grievances from the primaries, echoing 2021 disputes over alleged manipulation and eligibility concerns, have fueled tensions. Aspirants like Prince Bidemi Akintunde have continued subtle campaigns, suggesting unresolved issues that could fragment the APC’s voter base in Ikosi-Isheri.
Despite strong public support for Samiat Bada and candidates in Kosofe and Agboyi-Ketu, these internal divisions remain a concern. The APC’s campaign committee, led by Hon. Babatunde Balogun, has urged reconciliation, but the risk of disunity persists. The absence of strong opposition candidates from parties like the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikosi-Isheri could amplify these internal challenges, potentially dampening voter turnout.
While the party projects confidence across Lagos, with leaders like Senator Olorunimbe Mamora urging voters to surpass past turnout, the lingering tensions in Ikosi-Isheri signal that the APC is still working to put its house in order.
