Tension As 13 Political Parties Reject Peace Accord As Lagos Residents Vote In LG Polls Today

Lagos residents are heading to the polls today, Saturday, July 12, to elect chairmen and councillors across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, as the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) pledges a credible process.

But the atmosphere remains tense following a wave of discontent from opposition parties and civil society groups, casting a shadow over the election’s integrity.

In what appears to be a significant red flag, 13 out of 15 registered political parties declined to sign a peace accord traditionally facilitated by LASIEC ahead of elections.

Naijaonpoint learnt that only the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Youth Party endorsed the agreement, while others opted out, citing unresolved grievances.

The Peace Accord is usually a symbolic gesture of commitment to a peaceful and orderly electoral process. But this time, party representatives, led by members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), expressed frustration over what they termed a lack of consultation and procedural fairness.

IPAC’s Public Relations Officer, George Ashiru, who spoke on behalf of the dissenting parties, criticised LASIEC’s decision not to extend the deadline for submission of nomination forms despite repeated requests.

He said, “The Commission did not consult us before releasing the guidelines. Most parties could not meet the unrealistic deadlines, especially with internal party crises.”

The Chairperson of the Labour Party (LP), Dayo Ekong, also pleaded with LASIEC to reconsider its stance, citing the ongoing crisis within the LP as the reason for the party’s delayed preparations. She further alleged that LP posters and billboards were vandalised in several parts of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, was present at the event and reportedly observed the proceedings without addressing the complaints raised.

In a separate development, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), a civil society group, has called for ...ponement of the elections, citing what it described as an unconstitutional delay in the implementation of the Local Government Administrative Law.

The group’s president, Alex Omotehinse, led a peaceful protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly, where a petition was submitted urging lawmakers to ensure immediate enforcement of the law.

According to CHSR, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed the law on May 7, 2025, but its implementation was deferred until August 4, which conveniently falls after today’s elections.

In its petition, CHSR argued that postponing the law’s activation until after the elections is “politically motivated” and “a violation of democratic principles.”

The group stated, “This calculated delay is not only unjustifiable but also undermines the spirit and letter of the Constitution, as well as democratic norms Lagos State has always prided itself on upholding.

“Allowing a law to be suspended arbitrarily for political convenience sets a dangerous precedent and may encourage future governments to subvert the legislative process to suit narrow interests. It is not only anti-democratic but also an affront to the rule of law.

“Delaying the law’s effect introduces legal ambiguity into the July 12 elections and risks post-election litigation and instability that could further polarize the polity and tarnish the image of Lagos State as a model of good governance. We, therefore, call on the Lagos State House of Assembly to uphold the sanctity of the legislative process by issuing a formal position affirming the law’s effective date as May 7, 2025.

“We demand immediate implementation of the Local Government Administrative Law without further delay. Failure to implement the law as duly signed is a violation of the public trust, and we shall not hesitate to escalate our advocacy to national and international levels if urgent corrective steps are not taken.”