The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission has officially announced July 12, 2025, as the date for the much-anticipated local government election across the state.
The announcement, made by LASIEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Tope Ojo, on Friday, signals the formal commencement of the electoral process for the 57 council chairmanship seats and 376 councillorship positions spread across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.
According to Ojo, should there be a need for a rerun in any of the wards or councils, the supplementary election has been scheduled for July 19.
This development comes as the tenure of the current local council officials nears its constitutional end, prompting LASIEC to swing into full election preparation mode to avoid any governance vacuum at the third tier of government.
“The commission has released the official Notice of Election, marking the beginning of electoral activities. Political parties are now expected to visit the LASIEC headquarters to obtain nomination forms for their candidates,” Ojo said.
As part of its engagements with stakeholders, LASIEC has slated a meeting with all registered political parties for Tuesday.
The commission also disclosed that the detailed Election Guidelines will be published on April 17, providing a framework for the conduct of the elections, including timelines for candidate nominations and campaign activities.
Campaigns and political rallies are permitted to begin from April 18 and will run through to July 9, giving political parties nearly three months to present their platforms and candidates to the electorate.
The nomination process for “substituted” and “only candidate” entries must be completed between June 18 and June 25, according to LASIEC’s electoral timetable.
Chairman of LASIEC, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (rtd), has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, transparent, and inclusive election.
She emphasised that LASIEC is working to guarantee a level playing field for all political parties, regardless of their size or influence.
“We are dedicated to strengthening grassroots democracy through a credible electoral process. The integrity of this election is paramount, and we are engaging all stakeholders to ensure trust in the outcome,” she stated.
She, therefore, urged political actors, civil society organizations, security agencies, and citizens to play their part in ensuring peaceful and orderly elections.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has consistently emphasised the importance of local governance in achieving development goals across Lagos.
With more than 90% of public services and community development activities rooted in the local council structure, credible elections at that level are seen as fundamental to sustaining Lagos’ reputation as a pacesetter in governance and urban administration.
The upcoming elections are expected to be a litmus test for Lagos’ political structure, especially as political parties jostle for relevance and increased grassroots penetration.
Observers say the exercise will serve as a prelude to larger political realignments ahead of the next general elections in 2027.
NAN