Lagos is poised for a pivotal grassroots test today, Saturday, July 12, 2025, as voters head to the polls for the long-awaited local government council elections.
From the bustling streets of the mainland to the islands, the atmosphere is thick with anticipation. Political candidates, residents, and civil society observers are bracing for what could be a quietly consequential day—one that may subtly reshape the contours of Lagos politics.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has published its final roster of certified candidates vying for chairmanship and councillorship seats across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Voting is slated to kick off at 8:00 a.m., with over 13,000 polling units expected to open their gates under the watch of deployed security operatives and armed with ballot materials.
Typically, local government elections in Nigeria are met with little public interest and sparse media coverage. But this year’s Lagos poll carries a heavier weight.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), still grappling with the aftershocks of opposition breakthroughs in the 2023 general elections, views today’s vote as a chance to reassert its grip at the grassroots level.
Analysts believe the outcome could act as a litmus test—not just for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s political standing, but also for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s enduring clout in his home state.
