…Party urges members to ignore misleading reports on resignation directives
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a clarification regarding the fate of 57 incumbent local government chairmen seeking re-election in the upcoming council polls.
According to a statement from the party’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, only those chairmen seeking re-election are required to resign their current positions, not all incumbents seeking elective offices.
The statement, titled “Re-Directive on Resignation of Incumbent Chairmen Contesting for Executive Chairmanship Position,” addressed reports suggesting that all incumbent chairmen intending to contest in the election would need to resign.
Oladejo refuted these claims, emphasising that the directive issued by the Lagos State Chairman of APC, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, applies solely to local government chairmen running for re-election.
“We want to make it abundantly clear that there’s no iota of truth in the publication as it was twisted to suit the interest of the publisher.
“On the contrary, the directive issued was for APC Local Government Chairmen who seek elective offices during the forthcoming elections to resign their positions, as they cannot be umpires and contestants at the same time,” the statement said.
The APC further clarified that local government party chairmen who are also aspirants in the upcoming elections will be required to step down from their current roles once the electoral guidelines are officially released by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
The party called on its members and the general public to disregard any misleading information and refrain from actions that could destabilize the political climate.
“As we await the electoral guidelines from the newly reconstituted LASIEC, we should all continue to promote activities that will foster party cohesion and understanding,” Oladejo added.