Tensions High as Lagos Residents Head to the Polls Amidst Political Disputes and Legal Controversy

Lagos State residents are casting their votes today, Saturday, July 12, in local council elections to select chairmen and councillors across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). While the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has assured the public of a credible and peaceful election process, the atmosphere remains politically charged and fraught with tension.

Several opposition parties and civil society organizations have raised alarm bells about the fairness and legality of the entire process, threatening to overshadow the democratic exercise. Of particular concern is the decision by 13 out of the 15 registered political parties to boycott the Peace Accord ceremony traditionally held before elections.

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Political Fractures and the Peace Accord Boycott

Only the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Youth Party signed the LASIEC-facilitated Peace Accord, a symbolic document pledging non-violence and adherence to electoral rules. The remaining parties, largely represented by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), refused to sign, claiming the electoral body sidelined them in critical planning decisions.

George Ashiru, IPAC’s Public Relations Officer, stated that LASIEC failed to adequately consult with political parties before releasing the election guidelines. He explained that unrealistic deadlines, especially for the submission of nomination forms, rendered most parties unable to comply, leaving their candidates effectively disqualified.

“The Commission did not consult us before releasing the guidelines. Most parties could not meet the unrealistic deadlines, especially with internal party crises,” Ashiru said.

Adding to the frustration, Dayo Ekong, Chairperson of the Labour Party (LP), appealed to LASIEC to extend the nomination deadline. She cited internal conflicts within the LP and alleged that campaign materials such as posters and billboards were defaced or destroyed across the state.

Despite the mounting concerns, LASIEC has not shifted its position. The state Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, attended the Peace Accord ceremony but did not offer any public remarks in response to the grievances voiced by the opposition parties.

Civil Society Raises Legal Alarm Over Election Timing

In a parallel development that further compounds the pre-election tension, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), a prominent civil society organization, has called for the postponement of the July 12 elections. The group argues that the polls are being conducted under a legal cloud due to the delayed implementation of the newly signed Lagos State Local Government Administrative Law.

According to CHSR, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed the law on May 7, 2025. However, implementation was deferred until August 4—just weeks after the scheduled elections. This timing, the group argues, is both deliberate and politically motivated.

Alex Omotehinse, President of CHSR, led a peaceful protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly, submitting a petition that criticized what he called a “calculated delay” in implementing a duly enacted law. The group insists that postponing the law’s activation undermines democratic principles and creates unnecessary legal ambiguity that could fuel post-election disputes.

“This calculated delay is not only unjustifiable but also undermines the spirit and letter of the Constitution,” the petition read. “Allowing a law to be suspended arbitrarily for political convenience sets a dangerous precedent.”

The group warned that the ambiguity surrounding the law’s effective date might trigger a wave of post-election litigation that could destabilize local governance and damage Lagos State’s reputation for legal and administrative excellence.

 Rising Concerns Over Electoral Credibility and Rule of Law

The convergence of political dissent, legal uncertainty, and institutional silence has cast a long shadow over the credibility of today’s elections. Observers fear that the failure of most political parties to endorse the Peace Accord may signal deeper issues of disenfranchisement and procedural bias.

The refusal by LASIEC to extend timelines, as well as the lack of public engagement from key stakeholders such as the police and electoral commission officials, has further inflamed concerns about transparency and fairness.

Meanwhile, civil society actors like CHSR are urging lawmakers to intervene immediately. Their demand: an official affirmation that the Local Government Administrative Law takes effect from the date of the governor’s assent—May 7, 2025—not a delayed future date that conveniently falls after the elections.

“Failure to implement the law as duly signed is a violation of the public trust,” the CHSR declared, adding that they are prepared to escalate the matter both nationally and internationally if corrective steps are not taken promptly.

As voters queue at polling units across Lagos today, the outcome of the elections may prove to be only the beginning of a broader political and legal confrontation. With the courts, civil society, and opposition parties all preparing for potential fallout, the true test of this election cycle may lie not only in the ballots cast but in how the state handles the controversies that follow.