The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has condemned opposition parties over their claims of electoral malpractice in the recently concluded local government elections, describing the allegations as an insult to the intelligence and will of Lagosians.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the party’s spokesperson, Hon. Oluseye Oladejo, the APC described the opposition’s efforts to discredit the poll as “baseless and ill-advised”.
According to Oladejo, the elections were conducted in full compliance with all legal and procedural frameworks, under the supervision of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), and observed by civil society groups and other relevant stakeholders.
“We have noted with concern the baseless and ill-advised efforts by certain opposition parties to discredit the recently concluded local government elections. These attempts, marked by misinformation, sensationalism, and outright falsehoods, are not only a disservice to the democratic process but also an insult to the people of Lagos who participated in a peaceful, transparent, and credible election,” the statement read.
The APC maintained that the outcome of the election reflected the true will of the people, noting that the results affirmed Lagosians’ continued trust in the party’s governance and performance record.
Oladejo said the opposition’s actions reeked of desperation, warning that democracy should not be undermined by “theatrics”.
The party urged aggrieved opposition groups to seek redress through legal channels if they had genuine concerns, rather than resort to public smear campaigns aimed at discrediting democratic institutions.
Reiterating its commitment to good governance and democratic principles, the APC called on all political actors to put the interest of the state above partisan interests and work collectively for the continued peace, progress, and development of Lagos State.
“We categorically reject the unsubstantiated claims of electoral malpractice being peddled by the opposition, whose actions seem driven more by desperation than by a commitment to democratic ideals. Lagosians will not be misled by political actors who resort to theatrics instead of engaging meaningfully with the electorate.
“The people of Lagos have spoken through the ballot, and their voice must be respected. We urge the opposition to put the interests of Lagos above partisan politics and work together for the continued progress and stability of our state,” Oladejo said.
APC emerged victorious in the Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos, after winning all chairmanship positions and 375 out of 376 councillors seats across the state.
According to the official results released by LASIEC on Sunday, the ruling party swept the polls in all 20 constitutionally recognised local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs).
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) managed to clinch a lone councillorship seat in Ward D of Yaba LCDA, marking the only seat not secured by the APC.
However, the opposition parties have strongly criticised the conduct of the elections. The PDP, Labour Party, and Social Democratic Party (SDP) raised concerns about alleged electoral malpractices, including ballot stuffing, voter suppression, and the denial of access to polling units.
The Youth Party, in a statement by its Lagos Chapter Chair, Francisco Doregos, described the election as “shambolic” and “blatantly rigged.”
The party accused LASIEC of bias, citing the appointment of known APC loyalists as electoral commissioners.