The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has scheduled the council election for July 12.
LASIEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Tope Ojo, disclosed this on Friday.
He said that the election for 57 council chairmanship positions and 376 councilor seats will take place on July 12. If necessary, a re-run will occur on July 19.
Lagos State comprises 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The election date was chosen to avoid a leadership vacuum in the councils.
LASIEC’s notice confirmed that the election will include 20 local government areas, 37 LCDAs, and 376 wards.
With the current local government administration nearing its end, LASIEC has ramped up efforts for a smooth election process.
The commission has officially launched the electoral process with the release of the Notice of Election.
Political parties must visit the LASIEC headquarters to obtain nomination forms for their candidates.
Ojo confirmed that a meeting with all registered political parties is set for Tuesday.
“The Election Guidelines will be published on April 17,” Ojo added.
According to him, campaigns and rallies will start on April 18 and end on July 9.
Nomination Forms for “substituted” and “only candidate” submissions must be submitted between June 18 and June 25.
LASIEC Chairman, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (rtd), assured a fair and level playing field for all political parties.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to holding a free, fair, inclusive, and credible election.
Okikiolu-Ighile encouraged political parties and aspirants to strictly follow the electoral timetable.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State has faulted LASIEC over its guidelines for the 2025 local government election.
IPAC, in a statement jointly issued by Mrs. Temilade Akinade, its Chairperson and Mr. George Ashiru, its Public Relations Officer, on Saturday, said the commission erred in the way it released the guidelines.
IPAC, the umbrella body of all 19 registered political parties in the State, said LASIEC disregarded established communication protocols in the release of the guidelines.
The council criticised the commission for not engaging political parties on important issues on the election, prior to releasing the guidelines.
IPAC also accused LASEIC of shrouding so many things about the election in secrecy.
The council said: “Critical questions and issues remain unresolved as regards the appropriate interpretation of the Supreme Court’s pronouncements on LG autonomy and how that will impact the 37 LCDAs established by the state government.
“IPAC only recently learned that a revised LASIEC law empowering the agency to conduct executive elections into 57 LG/LCDAs was approved on Jan. 9 and signed into law on Jan. 10 by the governor.
“This took IPAC by surprise. Such critical legislation should be in the public domain. The information was not made public on any platform and copies of the new law are yet to be made available to IPAC for distribution to political parties”
The council said the new LASIEC board, led by Retired Justice Mobolanle Okikiola-Ighinle, had not done much to foster a transparent relationship between the commission and IPAC or provide a platform for the council to make input on plans for the election.
According to IPAC, the new board has only met with representatives of political parties once since January and the meeting was at the request of IPAC.
IPAC said LASEIC should have called a series of meetings with political parties to properly explain the provisions of the new law as they affect the election.
“LASIEC has a lot to learn from INEC in Lagos State about the need for continuous engagement, communication, and transparency to have a smooth, free and fair election.
“The constant late release of guidelines close to when the electoral cycle begins and the lack of continued engagement with the political parties is an error.
“This will make political parties and their members misinterpret the actions of LASIEC as driving in the direction of a predetermined outcome.