A coalition of opposition political parties in Lagos State has called for the immediate cancellation of the recently concluded Local Government Elections, citing widespread irregularities, voter disenfranchisement, and what they described as “a state-sponsored electoral robbery.”

 

At a joint press conference held in Lagos on Tuesday, leaders of the Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), African Action Congress (AAC), Action People’s Congress (APP), and Accord Party (AP) condemned the election exercise, accusing the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) of bias, administrative failure, and collusion with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

Speaking on behalf of the Labour Party, Pastor Dayo Ekong, whose address was read by her deputy Mr. Olasupo Ajayi, described the elections as a “systematic state-sponsored rape of democracy” and a deliberate effort to silence opposition voices.

 

“We witnessed, and documented, widespread irregularities orchestrated by LASIEC. We utterly reject the fraudulent results declared,” Ekong said.

“The Labour Party will explore every legal and constitutional avenue to challenge this electoral robbery.”

 

 

 

She decried the absence of basic voting materials—ballot boxes, papers, and result sheets—in many local government areas, adding that opposition candidates and agents were deliberately excluded from the process.

 

Widespread Disenfranchisement and Electoral Misconduct

 

Olusegun Mobolaji, State Chairman of YPP and former IPAC Chairman, disclosed that over 100 opposition candidates were disenfranchised due to LASIEC’s administrative bottlenecks. He cited the omission of party logos from ballot papers and the late issuance of essential documents like agent tags.

 

“Out of over 3,000 tags we were due to receive, we got only 310. Even those were delivered on the eve of the election. In many cases, voters arrived to find polling units missing or officials absent,” he stated.

 

 

 

Mobolaji added that YPP, APP, and LP logos were removed from ballots in certain LGAs without explanation, undermining the credibility of the process. He said documented appeals to LASIEC, the State Assembly, and security agencies were ignored.

 

Mrs. Abiola Adeyemi, State APP Chairperson and IPAC Secretary, narrated how she narrowly escaped an attack in Badagry by suspected political thugs after raising objections about the omission of her party’s logo.

 

Accord Party Chairman, Mr. Dele Oladeji, accused LASIEC of acting as “an election player rather than an impartial umpire.” He alleged that the electoral commission blocked party access to materials and results prior to, during, and after the election.

 

“We didn’t contest against APC; we contested against LASIEC. Results were declared without being shared with political parties. It was a premeditated rigging operation,” Oladeji added.

 

 

 

Legal Action Looms

 

The opposition parties vowed to challenge the outcome in court and at relevant electoral tribunals, warning that the declared results—where the APC reportedly won all 57 chairmanship seats and 375 out of 376 councillorship positions—will not go unchallenged.

 

“This is not just about party rivalry; it’s about preserving the integrity of democracy in Lagos State,” the parties concluded.

 

 

 

APC Responds

 

Reacting to the backlash, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Sunday, dismissed the allegations and praised the outcome as a reflection of the people’s will.

 

“We thank the electorate for their trust. The results mirror the overwhelming support the APC enjoys across the state,” Oladejo stated.

 

The controversy surrounding the Lagos LG elections has set the stage for an intense legal battle and raised critical questions about electoral transparency, fairness, and democratic integrity in Nigeria’s commercial capital. As opposition parties prepare to seek redress, all eyes will be on the tribunal and the judiciary to determine whether these claims of electoral misconduct hold weight.