Millions of Lagos residents are expected to vote today in the local government elections to choose chairmen and councillors across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has assured the public of a free, fair, and credible process, despite rising concerns over transparency and widespread discontent from opposition parties.
Only two of the 15 registered political parties — the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Youth Party signed the mandatory peace accord ahead of the election. The remaining 13 parties refused, alleging unfair treatment and lack of consultation by LASIEC.
During the peace accord meeting, opposition representatives accused LASIEC of ignoring calls to extend candidate registration deadlines and failing to include parties in the drafting of election guidelines.
Labour Party (LP) Chairperson in Lagos, Dayo Ekong, cited internal party crises as the reason for missing deadlines and accused unknown persons of vandalising LP candidates’ billboards and posters across the state.
George Ashiru, spokesperson for the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said the aggrieved parties are still willing to sign the peace accord — but only if LASIEC reconsiders some of its decisions.
LASIEC Chairperson, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (rtd), stated that all preparations have been completed to ensure a smooth exercise. Voting will take place in 13,325 polling units across the state, with 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship positions up for grabs.
A total of 7,060,195 voters are registered, with over 6.2 million PVCs already collected.
“We are fully ready,” she said. “Security agencies, including the police, civil defence, and joint military patrols, are on standby to ensure safety. We urge all candidates and supporters to maintain peace and respect democratic values.”
Meanwhile, a human rights group, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), has petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly to postpone the election, citing concerns over the delayed implementation of the new Local Government Administrative Law signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on May 7, 2025.
CHSR argues that postponing the law’s enforcement until August 4 — after the election — undermines democracy and could trigger legal battles post-election.
“The delay is unconstitutional and may cause post-election crises,” said CHSR President Comrade Alex Omotehinse. “The law must take immediate effect to protect the integrity of the election and Lagos’ democratic standards.”
As Lagosians head to the polls today, all eyes will be on how LASIEC handles the growing tension, security concerns, and calls for reform in what is seen as a crucial grassroots test ahead of the 2027 general elections.