APC sweeps Lagos council polls amid low turnout and opposition protests

Summary

• APC wins all 57 chairmanship seats and 375 of 376 councillorship seats
• LASIEC declares elections peaceful despite low voter turnout and opposition outcry
• Opposition parties reject results, citing irregularities and vow legal challenge

Lagos, Nigeria – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured an overwhelming victory in the Lagos State local government elections held on 12 July 2025, winning all 57 chairmanship positions across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The party also clinched 375 out of 376 councillorship seats, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) managing to secure just one seat in Ward D of Yaba LCDA.

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), chaired by retired Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, announced the results on 13 July at its headquarters in Sabo, Yaba. The polls were conducted across 13,325 polling units, with over seven million registered voters. However, voter turnout was notably low, attributed to widespread apathy, logistical setbacks, and a general lack of voter awareness.

LASIEC described the election process as peaceful, reporting no significant incidents of violence, ballot snatching, or voter intimidation. The commission commended security agencies, civil society groups, the media, and traditional institutions for their roles in ensuring order.

Key victories for the APC included Taiwo Oyekan in Lagos Island LGA with 28,385 votes against the PDP’s 1,271; Prince Lanre Sanusi in Amuwo-Odofin LGA with 24,926 votes over the Labour Party’s 1,962; and Adedayo Ladega in Ikorodu LGA, who secured 38,946 votes. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hailed the results as an endorsement of the APC’s grassroots development agenda, citing ongoing projects in infrastructure and healthcare.

However, several opposition parties, including the PDP, Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and African Action Congress (AAC), rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities. These included reports of voter suppression, ballot stuffing, and the exclusion of opposition candidates’ names from ballot papers. LP’s Sam Okpala denounced the election as a “sham,” while AAC’s Ayoyinka Oni called it “daylight robbery,” both announcing intentions to challenge the results in court.

Some posts on X claimed that LASIEC had invalidated 80% of opposition candidates and limited ballot options to only the APC and PDP, though these allegations remain unverified. Former deputy governor Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele also called for the cancellation of the election, citing missing voter names and the sudden relocation of polling units.

Despite the protests, LASIEC insisted the election was free, fair, and credible, stating that results were collated lawfully. Certificates of return for the elected officials are expected to be issued shortly. The APC’s sweep further cements its longstanding dominance in Lagos State, a political stronghold significantly shaped by President Bola Tinubu’s enduring influence.