The Lagos State chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of rigging the recently concluded local government elections and is calling for the immediate removal of the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
AAC Chairman in Lagos, Ayoyinka Oni, made the allegations during a live appearance on News Central Television’s programme Inside Lagos Politics – The Fallout of the Local Government Elections.
In the July 12 polls, the APC won all 20 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmanship seats, all 37 Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chairmanship positions, and 375 councillorship slots. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured just one councillorship seat.
“We don’t have a ruling party in Lagos; we have a ruining party,” Oni said during the programme. He alleged that the APC manipulated the electoral process and accused police officers on duty of “sleeping and collecting bribes.”
Oni further demanded that the LASIEC chairman be sacked for what he described as a compromised and poorly managed election.
Reacting to the claims, political analyst and civil society advocate, Nelson Ekujumi, urged opposition parties to better understand the electoral laws and processes. He emphasised the need for voter education and more effective participation in democratic governance.
Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, defended the conduct of police officers during the election, describing the exercise as “90 percent successful.” He acknowledged minor incidents but said they were promptly addressed.
The Lagos LG elections have continued to generate criticism from opposition parties, many of whom argue that the process lacked transparency and fairness.