The All Progressives Congress (APC) has swept the Lagos State local government elections held on Saturday, securing all 20 local government chairmanship positions and 375 out of 376 councillorship seats across the state.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) announced the results on Sunday, noting that the only exception to the APC’s sweep was Ward D in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won a councillorship seat.
Fifteen of Nigeria’s 19 registered political parties participated in the election, which covered 20 local government areas (LGAs) and 37 LCDAs. Over 7 million registered voters were expected to cast their ballots in 13,325 polling units.
The outcome further cements APC’s political dominance in Lagos, reinforcing its hold on the state’s grassroots governance structure.
Low Turnout and Logistical Challenges
Despite the early deployment of election officials and a generally peaceful voting process, voter turnout was notably low in many areas, especially in Lagos Island East LCDA.
At several polling units, only a handful of voters were present. For instance, at Polling Unit 013 on Moloney Street, only 11 of the 122 registered voters showed up early. Other units recorded similarly sparse attendance: five out of 62 (PU 006), six out of 48 (PU 007), and low turnout at PU 011, PU 016, and PU 018 despite high registration numbers.
LASIEC officials were present across polling units and operated without major disruptions. Police officers were also stationed at each location, helping to maintain order throughout the largely uneventful election.
LASIEC Responds to Concerns
Speaking during a press briefing, LASIEC Chairperson Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (retired) said all parties had equal opportunity to participate in the elections. She acknowledged reports of late material delivery and voter apathy in some areas.
“In some places, the turnout was impressive. In others, people came out at their own pace,” she said.
“Someone told me it took less than five minutes to vote at their polling unit. So, we may not truly gauge turnout by crowd size alone.”
She also confirmed that logistical delays in remote areas were largely resolved.
Voter Apathy and Lack of Awareness Blamed
Residents interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES cited widespread disillusionment with the local electoral process and a lack of public awareness as key reasons for the low turnout. Many expressed doubts that their votes would make a difference.
As of midday Saturday, voting continued peacefully across the state, but participation remained underwhelming.
According to LASIEC, Lagos has 7,060,195 registered voters, of whom 6,214,970 had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). However, 845,225 PVCs remain uncollected, highlighting potential gaps in civic engagement.
Saturday’s elections covered all 57 chairmanship and vice-chairmanship positions, along with 376 councillorship seats across the state’s LGAs and LCDAs.
