Over 7 million registered voters in Lagos State are set to cast their ballots today, Saturday, July 12, 2025, in the local government and councillorship elections, marking a significant democratic exercise across the state’s 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.
Polling will occur in 13,325 units spread across 376 wards, with voters equipped with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) choosing representatives to steer grassroots governance. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has mobilized 30,000 officials, supported by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), to ensure a transparent process, following a Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy in July 2024 that heightened the election’s stakes.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged peaceful participation, emphasizing the role of local councils in delivering services like sanitation and road maintenance. Security has been bolstered with patrol units and rapid-response teams across potential flashpoints, reflecting lessons from past elections marred by low turnout and occasional violence.
Opposition parties, including the African Action Congress (AAC), have raised concerns about LASIEC’s readiness, citing delayed candidate lists and inadequate consultation, though LASIEC insists on its preparedness. With 19 parties contesting, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) aims to maintain its dominance, having won all seats in 2021, but analysts predict a competitive race amid growing public scrutiny.