SANWO-OLU INSISTS ON ELECTIONS ACROSS 57 LAGOS COUNCILS DESPITE LEGAL DEBATE

SANWO-OLU INSISTS ON ELECTIONS ACROSS 57 LAGOS COUNCILS DESPITE LEGAL DEBATE

Fly Cable News

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed that the upcoming 2025 local government elections in the state will be conducted across all 57 councils, comprising 20 constitutionally recognized local government areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

Speaking during an interview on TVC’s Breakfast Show, the governor said, “The elections will proceed as planned in all 57 councils. This reflects our commitment to grassroots governance and inclusion.”

His stance aligns with that of Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Chairman of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), who had earlier declared the party’s readiness to maintain its long-standing practice of holding elections in all 57 councils.

However, this position has reignited constitutional debates, with critics arguing that elections should only take place in the 20 LGAs officially recognized by the Nigerian Constitution. Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has challenged the legality of the state’s approach.

Hon. Gbajabiamila, a seasoned legal expert and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, asserted that, “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 divergence in opinion has drawn attention to the long-standing legal ambiguity surrounding the LCDAs, which were created in 2003 and have since operated without federal recognition. Despite this, Lagos State has consistently held elections across all 57 councils.