Residents of Lagos State head to the polls today, Saturday, July 12, to elect chairmen and councillors across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
However, the credibility of the electoral process is under intense scrutiny as tensions escalate over allegations of exclusion and procedural irregularities.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), which is overseeing the process, has pledged a credible and peaceful election. Yet, 13 of the 15 registered political parties have declined to sign the customary peace accord — a symbolic agreement affirming parties’ commitment to a non-violent, orderly electoral process.
Only the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Youth Party endorsed the accord, while the remaining parties, under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), refused, citing lack of consultation and unfair electoral guidelines.
Parties Decry Exclusion and Unrealistic Deadlines
George Ashiru, Public Relations Officer of IPAC, spoke on behalf of the dissenting parties, expressing deep frustration with LASIEC’s refusal to extend deadlines for nomination form submissions.
“The Commission did not consult us before releasing the guidelines,” Ashiru said. “Most parties could not meet the unrealistic deadlines, especially while grappling with internal challenges.”
The Labour Party (LP) Chairperson in Lagos, Dayo Ekong, echoed these concerns, adding that the party’s campaign materials had been vandalised across several areas in the state.
“We are appealing to LASIEC to be fair and just. Our delay is largely due to internal issues beyond our control, yet our posters and billboards are being defaced,” Ekong said.
Present at the peace accord event was Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, who reportedly observed the proceedings but did not directly respond to the grievances raised by party leaders.
Civil Society Group Calls for Postponement
In a parallel development, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has called for an immediate postponement of the elections. The group argues that a delay in implementing the Local Government Administrative Law—signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on May 7, 2025—renders the elections constitutionally questionable.
CHSR President, Alex Omotehinse, led a peaceful protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly, where a formal petition was submitted. The petition criticized the government’s decision to defer implementation of the law until August 4—conveniently after the election date.
“This calculated delay is not only unjustifiable but also undermines the Constitution and the democratic values Lagos has always claimed to uphold,” Omotehinse said. “Suspending a law for political convenience sets a dangerous precedent and may invite future subversions of the legislative process.”
The group warned that the delayed implementation introduces legal ambiguities that could fuel post-election disputes and erode public trust in democratic institutions.
“We demand immediate implementation of the Local Government Administrative Law. Anything short of that is a violation of public trust,” the CHSR declared, adding that it may escalate its campaign to national and international platforms if necessary.
