Tension Grips Lagos As 13 Parties Boycott Peace Pact Ahead Of LG Elections

Lagos residents are casting their votes today, Saturday, July 12, to elect chairmen and councillors across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has promised a free and credible election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

However, the political atmosphere remains tense, following widespread dissatisfaction among opposition parties and civil society organizations—raising concerns over the credibility of the electoral process.

In a dramatic development, 13 of the 15 registered political parties declined to sign the customary peace accord usually brokered by LASIEC ahead of elections. Only the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Youth Party endorsed the agreement. The others, led by members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), cited unresolved issues and a lack of proper consultation as reasons for their refusal.

IPAC’s Public Relations Officer, George Ashiru, voiced the group’s frustration, criticising LASIEC for refusing to extend the deadline for submission of nomination forms despite multiple appeals.

“The Commission did not consult us before releasing the guidelines,” Ashiru said. “Most parties were unable to meet the unrealistic deadlines, especially with ongoing internal party disputes.”

Labour Party Chairperson Dayo Ekong echoed similar concerns. She urged LASIEC to reconsider its stance, noting that the LP’s internal crisis delayed preparations. Ekong further alleged that the party’s campaign materials were vandalized across parts of the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, was present during the peace accord event but reportedly did not address any of the complaints raised.

Meanwhile, civil society group Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has called for an immediate postponement of the polls, citing what it describes as a constitutional breach regarding the delayed implementation of the Local Government Administrative Law.

CHSR president Alex Omotehinse led a peaceful protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly, submitting a petition demanding urgent enforcement of the law. The law, which was signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on May 7, 2025, is set to take effect on August 4—conveniently after the elections.

The group claimed this delay is politically driven and undermines democratic principles.

“The deliberate suspension of the law’s implementation until after the elections is not only undemocratic but a betrayal of public trust,” CHSR stated in its petition. “This action threatens the rule of law and opens the door for future manipulation of legislative processes for political gain.”

CHSR warned that the legal ambiguity introduced by the delay could lead to post-election litigation and destabilize Lagos State’s image as a model of democratic governance.

The group concluded by demanding immediate enforcement of the law and vowed to escalate its advocacy to national and international platforms if corrective action is not taken swiftly.