Three civic groups have raised concerns over what they described as major irregularities ahead of the Lagos State Local Government and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) elections scheduled for Saturday, July 12.
The groups — Digital Future Development Initiative (DiF-DI), AdvoKC Foundation, and PoliZ — in a joint statement on Wednesday, accused the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) of actions that could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
They listed late publication of the list of candidates, lack of basic information about contestants, outdated electoral practices, and the selective application of a new electoral law among their key concerns.
According to them, LASIEC released the list of qualified and disqualified candidates only five days before the election, leaving affected aspirants with little time to seek redress and voters without adequate information to make informed choices.
The groups also criticised LASIEC for failing to publish candidates’ age, gender, or professional background, which they said makes it hard to assess youth and gender inclusion.
They expressed further disappointment that LASIEC is still using analogue systems with no real-time updates or online voter education tools, despite the digital age.
On the newly signed Lagos State Local Government Administration Law, 2025, the groups accused the state government of delaying its implementation until after the election.
They said this delay allows candidates who would otherwise be disqualified under the new law to still contest.
In some council areas, they added, the law is being enforced, while in others it is not — a situation they described as selective and unfair.
They called for the immediate publication of full candidate details, the digitisation of the electoral process, full enforcement of electoral laws, and continued civil society monitoring of local elections.
“Local government must not become a breeding ground for impunity,” the groups said. “Citizens deserve an electoral process they can trust — one that is transparent, inclusive, fair, and lawful.”
They urged voters, journalists, observers, and civil society to speak out and demand a credible election process in Lagos.
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