The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Cornelius Ojelabi, has confirmed that Local Government elections will take place across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state in 2025.
Ojelabi emphasized the significant contributions of the LCDAs, describing their role as pivotal to the political and socio-economic development of Lagos State.
In a statement released on Sunday, he highlighted that the LCDAs have brought the government closer to the grassroots while facilitating meaningful development across the state.
“We observed with keen interest the recent debates on the desirability of the existence of the LCDAs and the need to hold elections in their political offices,” Ojelabi stated.
“Our landscape is dotted with several infrastructural projects by the LCDAs, which include road, drainage and market construction, school and housing projects, primary education and health facilities, and various social service interventions, etc.
“The various collaborative efforts with the state government on refuse disposal, drain clearing and security are also pointers to their continuous relevance,” he added.
Ojelabi expressed hope that his statement would dispel any speculations regarding the local government elections and prevent unnecessary tension in the political space.
Controversy, however, continues to swirl around the fate of the LCDAs in the state.
In October, a bill titled ‘A Law to Provide for the Local Government System, Establishment and Administration, and to Consolidate All Laws on Local Government Administration and Connected Purposes’ was subjected to a public hearing in Lagos.
The bill proposes replacing the existing 37 LCDAs with Area Administrative Councils.
However, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, clarified that the review of the Local Government Administration Law is not aimed at scrapping the LCDAs but rather at strengthening their operations
