Three civic organisations on Thursday raised concerns about irregularities in the conduct of the upcoming local government elections in Lagos.
As at the time of filing this report, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Mr. Ojo Tope, was yet to respond to Ikeja Record’s questions, in relation to the organisations’ grave concerns.
In a joint statement obtained by Ikeja Record, the Digital Future Development Initiative (DiF-DI), AdvoKC Foundation and Poliz criticised LASIEC for the late release of candidate lists and failure to provide critical voter information.
According to the civic groups, LASIEC published the final list of qualified and disqualified candidates only five days before the July 12 election, leaving no time for aggrieved aspirants to appeal.
The groups claimed this move violates the constitutional right to fair hearing and leaves voters without enough time to properly assess the candidates.
The organisations also faulted LASIEC for not providing key details about candidates, such as their age, gender, and other background information. These details, the groups reasoned, are crucial to ensuring inclusive representation, particularly for women and young people.
Despite widespread internet access in Lagos, the groups added that LASIEC has done little in terms of digital voter education, offering no real-time updates or central online portal for election information.
They also raised concerns over the delayed implementation of the Lagos State Local Government Administration Law, 2025, which introduces reforms such as term limits for officeholders.
Although signed in May, the law will only take effect after the election.
The civic groups said this delay has allowed some ineligible candidates to remain on the ballot, with inconsistent enforcement across councils.
“Lagosians deserve a credible, inclusive, and transparent grassroots electoral process,” the statement said.