The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has announced that the local council elections will be held on July 12.

Mr. Tope Ojo, LASIEC’s Head of Public Affairs, made the announcement on Friday in Lagos. He indicated that elections for 57 council chairmanship positions and 376 councillor seats are scheduled for this date, with a potential re-run on July 19 if necessary.

Lagos State consists of 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The election date was strategically selected to prevent any leadership vacuum within the state’s councils.

The notice from LASIEC confirmed that the elections will encompass all 20 Local Governments, 37 LCDAs, and 376 wards. As the current local government administration approaches its conclusion, LASIEC has intensified its efforts to ensure a seamless electoral process.

The commission has officially initiated the electoral process with the release of the Notice of Election. Political parties are required to visit the LASIEC headquarters to acquire nomination forms for their candidates.

Ojo also announced a meeting with all registered political parties scheduled for Tuesday. “The Election Guidelines will be published on April 17,” he added.

LASIEC has expressed its preparedness for the upcoming polls in Lagos councils. Campaign activities and rallies are set to commence on April 18 and will conclude on July 9.

Nomination forms for “substituted” and “only candidate” submissions must be completed and submitted between June 18 and June 25. LASIEC Chairman, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (rtd), has pledged to ensure a fair and equitable environment for all political parties. He reiterated the commission’s dedication to conducting a free, fair, inclusive, and credible election, urging political parties and aspirants to adhere strictly to the electoral timetable.

….He remains adorable figures in the north

Senator Ali Ndume has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be worried if ex-President Muhamamdu Buhari is not on his side.

Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, the lawmaker said although Buhari has just one vote, he remains an adorable figure in Northern Nigeria.

Ndume spoke after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar led key opposition figures to Buhari’s residence in Kaduna, on Friday.

The senator said he was also planning a visit to Buhari.

He said, “Buhari’s followership has diminished naturally because it is different when you are not in power and after spending like eight years in power. Of course his popularity, everything has diminished, it is natural, but you can’t write him off especially with the Northern masses. The followership of Buhari has been occultic. You cannot explain it.

“If Buhari is coming here now, you will see people rushing to see. Everybody including those in the vegetable market will rush here. Buhari is still with the Talakawas

“Tinubu should be worried if Buhari is not on his side. Every number counts and Buhari has one vote. Tinubu should also be worried about my position. Because I have one vote for him. He does not have a vote for me.”

Elanza News learnt that there were concerns over the potential exit of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc from the APC.

This was amplified following a recent meeting between former Buhari and APC governors.

The visit, which took place on Monday in Kaduna, was initially perceived as a routine courtesy call but has since sparked speculation about its deeper purpose.

It was gathered that the governors reportedly sought Buhari’s intervention to halt defections from the party, particularly by key members of the CPC bloc.

The governors’ appeal reportedly arose from growing concerns about potential defections ahead of the 2027 general elections. The defunct CPC, a key bloc within APC, remains highly influential, with Buhari regarded as its central figure.

There are fears within APC that the exit of this bloc could spell disaster for the party on a national scale.

The Monday meeting took place amid a wave of defections by Buhari’s allies from APC to SDP. Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai was the first to publicly announce his departure, claiming he had secured Buhari’s blessing before leaving the party.

Several former ministers who served in Buhari’s cabinet are also reportedly finalising plans to join the SDP, and in Buhari’s home state of Katsina, numerous APC members have already defected to the SDP.

The CPC, founded in 2009, merged in February 2013 with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form what is now known as the APC.

Elanza News gathered that the governors feared Buhari’s enduring cult-like followership in the North could become a major liability for APC if he backs his CPC associates. His bloc vote, they feared, could be catastrophic for the party in 2027.

It was gathered that the governors specifically urged Buhari to dissuade his CPC associates from leaving APC. However, the former president reportedly declined to make any such commitment.

While reaffirming his loyalty to APC, he insisted that others must be allowed to make their own political choices—a principle he said he has upheld throughout his political career.

Meanwhile, Buhari has said he remains a committed member of the ruling APC.

In a statement by Garba Shehu, his spokesman, Buhari was quoted to have said after Wl-Rufai’s defection, he would never turn his back on the APCy that gave him the platform to become Nigeria’s number one citizen.