Lagos APC Primary Targets Aregbesola’s Influence In Councils

Insiders Say Lagos APC LG Primary Election Aimed at Completely Removing Aregbesola’s Influence on Councils

Emerging details indicate that Saturday’s Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) local government primary election is expected to completely eliminate the influence of Rauf Aregbesola in council areas.

Aregbesola, a former commissioner in Lagos State, was a major stakeholder in the party before falling out with its leadership. Also a former Governor of Osun State, he once served as the number two man to the party’s national leader and now President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Despite being at odds with party stakeholders, Aregbesola had retained influence at the local level through the electoral value of his entrenched groups and affiliations, which enabled his loyalists to secure party tickets—especially for council positions.

However, insiders say the Saturday, May 10, 2025, local government primary election is different.

Sources disclosed that party groups and chieftains affiliated with Aregbesola have been sidelined in the intense political negotiations and horse-trading processes that will produce candidates for the 57 chairmanship positions and 376 councillorship seats available.

“It is a deliberate ploy adopted by the party leadership to close ranks and position only those with absolute or near-absolute loyalty ahead of the 2027 election,” insiders say.

Aregbesola—who is also the immediate past Minister of Interior—has since left the APC and is reportedly hobnobbing with opposition political parties forming an alliance to unseat the APC at both the federal level and in states under its control.

“Sidelining Aregbesola’s loyalists or allies in the Lagos APC from the process of selecting ticket holders for the upcoming local government elections is part of a tactical strategy to bolster the party’s strength ahead of the general election,” sources added.

Checks revealed that this move is considered particularly important because, despite winning the presidency overall, Tinubu lost the 2023 election in Lagos—his supposed stronghold. Tinubu is working towards another term as President.

While the APC local government primary election is taking place today, the main election is scheduled for July 12, 2025.