LASIEC Vows Zero Tolerance for Malpractice Ahead of July 12 LG Elections
Ahead of the Saturday, July 12 Local Government Elections in Lagos, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on electoral malpractice, urging all political parties and their candidates to uphold the principles of democratic culture during the exercise.
The Commission also reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election, disclosing that adequate security measures have been put in place to protect lives and property before, during, and after the polls.
Speaking at a media briefing held at LASIEC headquarters in Sabo, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile(retired), emphasized the importance of voter integrity and warned against vote selling, stressing that electoral decisions will shape governance at the grassroots for the next four years.
Justice Okikiolu-Ighile revealed that out of the 19 registered political parties, 15 will participate in the election. She added that 6,214,970 out of over 7 million registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and will be eligible to vote in 13,325 polling units across the state.
She stated that a total of 57 Chairmen and 376 Councillors will be elected during the voting window, which runs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
To ensure inclusivity and transparency, LASIEC engaged a wide range of stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, religious bodies, persons with disabilities, market leaders, the media, and security agencies. Advocacy meetings were held across all five divisions of the state — Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe.
Justice Okikiolu-Ighile also disclosed that she personally visited LASIEC area offices in all LGAs and LCDAs to monitor readiness and compliance with electoral laws and guidelines. She further noted that all electoral officers and ad-hoc staff underwent comprehensive training, incorporating lessons learned from past elections to improve efficiency and credibility.
“All non-sensitive electoral materials have been deployed, and the sensitive ones will be distributed under strict security protocols,” she said.
To make voting more accessible, especially for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the elderly, LASIEC has adjusted voting center locations to be closer to residential areas to reduce voter stress.
Also speaking at the briefing, LASIEC Commissioner for Media and Publicity, Mr. Akin Oluwo, described the media as a critical stakeholder and urged journalists to report responsibly during the elections. He encouraged media professionals to liaise directly with LASIEC officials for accurate information to prevent the spread of misinformation or incitement.
