The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of all 20 chairmanship positions in the recently concluded local government elections across the state.
At a media briefing, LASIEC Chairperson Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (rtd) revealed that out of the 376 councillorship seats contested, the APC won 375, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured one seat in Ward D, Yaba LCDA, through Babatunde Dosunmu Tijani, a former APC member who recently defected to the PDP.
However, the election results have sparked strong reactions from opposition parties, who allege widespread irregularities and misconduct.
The African Action Congress (AAC), PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Labour Party (LP) all faulted the conduct of the polls. AAC Lagos Chairman Ayoyinka Oni described the process as a “shame to democracy,” citing late arrival of officials, missing logos on ballot papers, voter apathy, and widespread vote-rigging by alleged APC agents.
Oni called for the immediate cancellation of the election and demanded the resignation of LASIEC Chairperson and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, accusing both of undermining the electoral process.
Similarly, PDP Deputy Chairman Tai Benedict accused the APC of manipulating the election to give an illusion of popularity, alleging that thumb-printed ballots were stuffed into boxes and predicting inflated vote counts.
The SDP also decried the exclusion of its name and logo from ballot papers. State Chairman Femi Olaniyi vowed to challenge the outcome in court, describing the process as “daylight robbery.”
In contrast, the APC hailed the election as a validation of its grassroots support. In a statement by its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the party expressed gratitude to Lagosians, describing the landslide win as evidence of public confidence in the APC’s leadership and policies. The party pledged continued good governance and infrastructural development at the local level.
