Sanwo-Olu casts vote in tightly watched grassroots contest

Voting commenced early Saturday across Lagos State as residents headed to the polls to elect chairmen and councillors in the 2025 local government elections, covering the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

At Polling Unit 007, situated within St. Stephen’s Nursery and Primary School, Adeniji Adele on Lagos Island—where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to cast his vote—electoral proceedings began promptly at 8:00 a.m., in line with the official schedule.

Officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) arrived on time and commenced accreditation and voting without incident.

Among the early voters was Jubril Gawat, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Sanwo-Olu, who cast his ballot shortly after voting began.

A visible security presence, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force, ensured a peaceful and orderly atmosphere at the polling unit, with similar scenes unfolding in other parts of the state.

In Amuwo-Odofin and Ikeja LGAs, logistics and material distribution were carried out efficiently. Electoral materials for the 14 LCDAs under Amuwo-Odofin and Oriade were dispatched early from the local government secretariat. As of the time of filing this report, there were no reports of delay, disruption, or missing materials.

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At the Ikeja council secretariat, LASIEC officials were seen organizing and dispatching materials to various polling centres across the LGA. Security operatives were also deployed to strategic polling units to support a hitch-free exercise.

The elections are being conducted in 13,325 polling units across the state, with observers and stakeholders watching closely. Though historically marked by low voter engagement and limited media coverage, today’s local polls are viewed as a political barometer for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has held sway in Lagos since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

The APC is widely expected to maintain its dominance, thanks to its entrenched grassroots machinery. However, the Labour Party (LP), riding on the momentum of its surprising performance during the 2023 general elections—particularly in LGAs such as Amuwo-Odofin, Eti-Osa, and Surulere—is aiming to challenge the status quo and establish a stronger presence at the local level.

Despite its ambition, the LP’s campaign visibility has been patchy across the state, leading to questions about its organizational strength. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once the leading opposition force in Lagos, has remained largely quiet, reflecting its ongoing internal crises and declining public appeal.

In a statement urging Lagosians to come out and vote, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the pivotal role local governments play in community development.

“Local government is the closest tier of government to the people. It affects the quality of life in our communities. I urge all eligible voters to go out and vote,” the governor said.