As Lagos State prepares for tomorrow’s local council elections, tension is mounting with opposition parties raising alarm over alleged plans by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to instigate violence and intimidate voters in opposition-dominated areas.
Leaders of parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Action Congress (AAC), and Youth Party have expressed strong doubts about the credibility of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). They accused the commission of irregularities, bias, and sidelining opposition candidates from the screening and validation processes.
PDP Chairman in Lagos, Philip Aivoji, claimed many of the party’s candidates were deliberately excluded from screening, describing LASIEC’s neutrality as questionable. Similarly, Ayodele Adio, Chairmanship candidate for Eti-Osa under the Youth Party, labelled the commission’s coordination “chaotic and unprofessional.” AAC’s Lagos Chairman, Ayoyinka Oni, went further, accusing LASIEC of issuing unilateral guidelines and ignoring Supreme Court judgments.
However, LASIEC has pushed back against the criticism. Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, the commission’s Chairperson, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, reaffirmed LASIEC’s readiness for the exercise across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
She stressed that adequate security arrangements had been made in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. Justice Okikiolu-Ighile also called on candidates and voters to uphold peace, promising that the commission remains impartial and committed to conducting a free, fair, and inclusive election.
Special focus, she said, has been placed on enhancing participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
On its part, the Lagos State Police Command has assured residents of a peaceful and secure election, urging voters not to be deterred by threats or rumours. The Command also reviewed its earlier restriction order on movement, stating that vehicular and waterway movements will now be restricted between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on election day, rather than from 3:00 a.m. as initially announced.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities via emergency hotlines provided by the police.
Amid the political drama, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has appealed for calm, urging Lagosians to participate peacefully in the council polls. Speaking while hosting leaders of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria at his palace on Thursday, the monarch called on residents not to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate violence.
“I don’t foresee any chaos. Let us stay positive. All residents should play by the rules and be law-abiding,” Oba Akiolu advised. He also urged politicians to see elections as contests, not conflicts, insisting that they often disagree but do not fight.
The monarch also expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would be re-elected in 2027, dismissing the threat posed by any opposition coalition. “I have no doubt Tinubu will win the next presidential election,” he said.
The church delegation visited the monarch to invite him to the centenary celebration of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, which was founded in Lagos 100 years ago. Archbishop Apanishile Olufemi said the anniversary would be marked nationwide and thanked Oba Akiolu for the palace’s support.
As the state heads to the polls, the credibility of LASIEC and the conduct of security agencies will be closely watched, especially by opposition parties and civil society groups who have vowed to legally challenge any perceived irregularities.
