APC Secures Landslide Victory in Lagos Local Government Elections
Ruling Party Wins All Chairmanship Seats, 375 of 376 Councillorship Positions
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has achieved a sweeping victory in Saturday’s local government elections across Lagos State, securing all 20 chairmanship seats and 375 out of 376 available councillorship positions. The results, announced Sunday by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), demonstrate the ruling party’s continued dominance in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Opposition PDP Claims Lone Victory
The only exception to the APC’s complete sweep came in Ward D of Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) managed to secure a single councillorship seat. This outcome underscores the APC’s firm control over Lagos politics at both state and local levels.
Over 7 million registered voters were eligible to participate in the elections, which determined leadership for the state’s 20 local government areas (LGAs) and 37 LCDAs. Voting took place across 13,325 polling units throughout Lagos.
Voter Apathy and Logistical Challenges
Low Turnout Despite Smooth Operations
Despite generally smooth operations and early arrival of electoral officials in many areas, voter turnout proved disappointingly low across numerous locations. On Lagos Island East LCDA, for example, polling units reported minimal participation:
- Polling Unit 013 (Moloney Street): 11 voters out of 122 registered
- Polling Unit 006: 5 voters out of 62 registered
- Polling Unit 007: 6 voters out of 48 registered
- Polling Unit 011: Minimal turnout despite 1,403 registered voters
LASIEC Chairperson Bola Okikiolu-Ighile acknowledged the mixed participation levels, stating: “In some places, the turnout was very impressive. In others, voters came out at their own pace.” She noted that while some remote areas initially faced access challenges, materials eventually reached all destinations.
Reasons Behind Voter Disengagement
Residents interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES cited several factors contributing to the poor turnout:
- Lack of faith in the local electoral process
- Insufficient awareness about the elections
- Belief that individual votes wouldn’t make a difference
With 845,225 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remaining uncollected out of 7,060,195 registered voters, accessibility issues may have further depressed participation.
Security and Election Administration
The elections proceeded peacefully across most of Lagos, with at least one police officer stationed at each polling unit to maintain order. LASIEC officials were present at all visited locations and processed voters without significant delays.
Fifteen of Nigeria’s 19 registered political parties participated in the elections, though none could mount a serious challenge to APC dominance. The commission had emphasized that no party was excluded from participation.
Implications for Lagos Politics
This electoral outcome reinforces Lagos as an APC stronghold and solidifies the party’s control over the state’s grassroots political structures. The near-total sweep suggests the opposition faces significant challenges in building competitive local organizations.
The elections covered all 57 chairmanship and vice-chairmanship positions, plus 376 councillorship seats across Lagos’s 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs. The complete list of local government areas includes:
- Agege
- Ajeromi-Ifelodun
- Alimosho
- Amuwo-Odofin
- Apapa
- Badagry
- Epe
- Eti-Osa
- Ibeju-Lekki
- Ifako-Ijaiye
- Ikeja
- Ikorodu
- Kosofe
- Lagos Island
- Lagos Mainland
- Mushin
- Ojo
- Oshodi-Isolo
- Shomolu
- Surulere
The results raise important questions about voter engagement, opposition viability, and the health of local democracy in Nigeria’s most populous state. While the elections were largely peaceful, the low turnout suggests many Lagosians remain disconnected from local governance processes.
For more details on this story, read the original report at Premium Times.