Market leaders across Lagos State have reaffirmed their political support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to mobilise traders and market stakeholders behind the party’s candidates in the coming elections.
The show of support came during a stakeholders’ meeting and special prayer session organised by the Lagos State Market Advisory Council (LASMAC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development in Ikeja. The gathering brought together traders, market executives, traditional leaders, religious figures and government officials.
At the centre of the event was a commitment by market leaders to rally support for President Bola Tinubu and the APC’s Lagos governorship candidate, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat. Market representatives said they would continue to mobilise their members in support of the ruling party while also praying for peaceful and successful elections.
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Speaking through the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, Hamzat thanked market leaders for their backing and described them as key partners in Lagos’ development. He said traders and market associations remain an important part of the state’s economic life, stressing that their concerns should continue to receive attention from government.
The APC candidate also pledged closer engagement with the market community if elected, promising to build on existing development programmes and ensure that governance remains inclusive. According to him, market operators play a significant role in sustaining jobs, commerce and economic growth across Lagos.
A major highlight of the event was the role of Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria and LASMAC chairman, who was commended for mobilising market stakeholders for the gathering. She told attendees that the meeting was designed to strengthen cooperation among market leaders and discuss preparations for the elections.
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Supporters at the event argued that the relationship between government and market communities extends beyond politics. Many traders view government policies on infrastructure, transportation and commerce as issues that directly affect their businesses and livelihoods. The meeting therefore served as both a political gathering and an opportunity for dialogue between public officials and market stakeholders.
Also speaking, Nurudeen Agbaje, Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, described market leaders as critical stakeholders in Lagos’ political and economic growth. He encouraged continued collaboration between traders and government institutions.
As Lagos prepares for the next electoral cycle, the latest endorsement underscores the influence market associations continue to wield in shaping grassroots political mobilisation. For the APC, support from organised trader groups could provide an important channel for reaching voters across the state’s commercial hubs.
