The Electoral College Nigeria has described the Saturday local government elections in Lagos as a “coronation”, and not a contest.
In a report released on Saturday, the civic organisation alleged widespread irregularities, systemic inefficiencies, and voter disenfranchisement.
The organisation further alleged that the election, conducted by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), failed to meet democratic standards and reflected a deeper erosion of grassroots democracy.
“With a voting population exceeding 10 million, only about 275,000 voters participated in the election — barely 3 percent turnout,” the report noted.
“This is not just voter apathy; it is a vote of no confidence in the credibility of the process and the institution managing it.”
Kunle Lawal, Executive Director of Electoral College Nigeria, said LASIEC lacks the structural independence required to conduct free and fair elections.
“The commission, often politically aligned with the ruling party, has turned what should be a democratic contest into a predictable coronation,” Lawal said.
The group said opposition candidates were either excluded through legal technicalities, denied access to nomination forms, or had their party logos missing from ballot papers.
“These actions are not mere oversights; they are antithetical to democratic principles,” the report stated.
The report said observers also reported a series of operational failures, including the late arrival of voting materials, untrained ad hoc staff, and non-functional polling units. It further claimed that there were also allegations of ballot stuffing and voter intimidation in several wards.
“These shortcomings not only cast doubt on the credibility of the results but expose the lack of institutional preparedness,” the group added.
The Electoral College also raised concerns about the financial stakes of local governance, pointing out that Lagos receives between N10 billion and N13 billion monthly in federal allocations for its 20 local governments.
“In a year, Lagos LGAs receive over ₦130 billion meant for development, education, health and other services,” the group said.
“When such enormous resources are allocated but only a tiny fraction of the electorate participates in deciding who controls them, it fosters unaccountability and corruption.”
To address these issues, the group recommended joint civic education campaigns, reforms in LASIEC’s structure, independent appointments, and the inclusion of opposition voices in pre-election processes.
It also offered to partner with LASIEC on electoral literacy, advisory support, and non-partisan election observation.
“Democracy does not end at the polling unit; it starts with the belief that each vote counts,” Lawal said.
“Sadly, the 2025 Lagos local elections tell a story of weakened institutions, disenfranchised citizens, and a broken process.”
He said the Electoral College Nigeria is willing to support LASIEC in reform efforts — if the commission is ready to reflect and change.
“For governance to truly serve the people, Lagos must do better,” he said.