The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission(LASIEC) says it is fully prepared to conduct a peaceful, fair and transparent Local Government election in the state on Saturday.
LASIEC Chairman,Retired Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, said this while briefing newsmen on the commission’s preparations on Thursday in Lagos.
She said the LASIEC was not taking anything for granted as it had put everything humanly possible in place to ensure a successful election.
“The commission is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a successful, free, fair and credible election that is devoid of violence, intimidation, or harassment.
“We count on you for an unbiased and balance reportage of the exercise. My appeal to all the contestants is to uphold democratic values and conduct themselves with decorum, maturity, and respect for the rule of law.
“The commission remains non-partisan and will not condone any form of electoral malpractice or violence,” she said.
Okikiolu-Ighile urged eligible residents to participate actively in the process ,advising voters to choose candidates according to their conscience and not sell their votes.
“To the electorate, I say this: Your vote is your voice. Come out on Saturday and cast your vote peacefully and confidently.
“Your participation strengthens our democracy and determines the quality of leadership at the grassroots.
“LASIEC is fully prepared for this election. Every necessary measure has been taken to guarantee the integrity of the process, Okikiolu-Ighile said
Regarding accreditation of voters, Okikiolu-Ighile said that LASIEC would not use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the election.
She said,instead, an alternative electronic device would be used for seamless accreditation.
Okikiolu-Ighile said, “We have worked with a device using telephone to get voters accredited for the election.
“It works anywhere and does the same work with Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).”
According to her, the polls will hold in the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.
Giving further details on the polls, she said that out of the 19 registered political parties in Nigeria, only 15 political parties would participate in the election.
“57 Chairmanship positions are being contested for as well as 57 Vice Chairmanship positions. Also, 376 Councillorship positions are to be contested for
“The election will be held in all the 13,325 Polling Units across the state. The total number of registered voters stands at 7,060,195,” she said.
According to her, the number of PVCs collected is 6, 214, 970 while the number of PVCs uncollected is 845,225.
The chairman noted that the development that leads to any free, fair and credible election starts with the promotion of public confidence and trust in the process.
To ensure a credible election, she said the commission had engaged political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, youths, persons with disabilities and other key stakeholders through consultations, meetings, and advocacy visits, to promote inclusivity and transparency.
According to her, the commission has ensured strict adherence to the election’s guidelines,
On voter apathy Okikiolu-Ighile, said that the commission had taken steps to promote voter turn out through several stakeholders sensitisation programmes in all the five divisions of the state,in partnership with relevant stakeholders.
She said that the commission adopted different strategies of voter education and media sensitisation, motorised campaign, outdoor advertising and branding, to reach out to the voting public.
“For transparent purposes, the recruitment of ad-hoc staff was conducted online through our user-friendly website.
“Those who met the rigorous process of selection have just completed their training and are ready for deployment,” she said
According to her, as part of LASIEC preparations for the election, non-sensitive materials have already been deployed.
She added that the distribution of sensitive materials to all the LGs and LCDAs would be done on the eve of the election day in the presence of security agencies and political party agents to ensure security and transparency.
On security, Okikiolu-Ighile said that security of lives and properties, as well as the safety of materials before, during and after the elections, remained fundamental and was being given topmost priority.
She assured the voting public of adequate security beyond the exercise.
“Members of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, shall be the first responders, while the joint Military patrol – OP MESSA shall equally be on standby,” she said
On collation of results, Okikiolu-Ighile said that councillorship results would be collated at the ward collation centres while the chairmanship results would be collated at the local government collation centres.
LG Poll: Lagos CP reassures residents of safety, warns trouble makers
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Lagos Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh has reversed the restriction of movement to between 6 am and 3pm ahead of the July 12, 2025, local government elections in the state.
Jimoh, who reversed the time in a news conference Police Officers’ Mess, Ikeja on Thursday, said the restriction of vehicular movement, which was initially from 3:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., had been reduced to 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
“We have adjusted the restriction based on the needs of people facing extreme medical emergencies and other urgent situations.
“We also took into consideration the concerns of many citizens and foreign nationals who are affected by travel plans and need to leave the country.
“We want to inform those coming from other parts of Nigeria and from outside the country that the restriction has now been relaxed,” he said.
Jimoh, however, warned troublemakers might want to foment trouble and cause a breach of peace during the elections to stay away or be ready to face the full weight of the law.
“The police will not spare anyone obstructing the electoral process. We are going to promptly apprehend the individual, investigate and we are going to prosecute them.
“We appeal to parents, guardians, opinion leaders and religious leaders to prevail on their children to be law-abiding and not to engage in any acts that can cause disturbance of the process anywhere throughout the state,” he said.
The police chief urged eligible voters to turn out en masse to exercise their franchise, assuring that security agencies are providing adequate protection for the entire electoral process.
“The election is taking place in 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.
“We are going to ensure proper protection throughout the 13,325 polling units that are spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.
“We will secure equipment, electoral materials, such as forms, resource sheets, that are being utilised for the process.
“Those who are accredited by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission to be part of this electoral process will be protected. People who are in their homes, on the streets will be protected also, ” he said.
The commissioner said the security agencies, working jointly, were fully committed to peaceful, fair and credible elections.
“All the agency led by Nigerian police force in terms of election security, including the military and other security and safety agency are all working on the same page.
“Our deployment for the election has been completed and police personnel have started moving to the location for which they are assigned.
“We will ensure strict compliance and enforcement of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, the Police Act 2020, the Criminal Code, the Penal Code, and Parliament against passing prohibition and other recourse laws.
He said that the command had met with the 15 political parties participating in the election and other stakeholders.
According to him, the command flagged up “Show of Force” exercise on Thursday and it will continue on Friday.
“The exercise is to send message to the public, to build the confidence of the electorate to be able to come out boldly to come and cast their votes on Saturday,
“At the same time sending strong messages to who will be criminal or people who have planned to perpetrate evil or cause destruction of the process to know that we are ready for them, ” he said
According to him, the command will ensure that all officers conform with the electoral act in their behaviours and in their conduct during and after the election.
