As Lagos residents prepare to vote in Saturday?s local government elections, tension continues to mount following weeks of controversy over the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, protests by aggrieved aspirants, and security concerns over a statewide lockdown order issued by the police.

The polls, covering 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), are considered a crucial political test, not only for the ruling APC in Lagos but also for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. Lagos is Tinubu?s traditional political base, and the outcome of the local polls, especially following the Labour Party?s upset in the 2023 presidential election, is expected to signal whether the party can maintain internal cohesion and voter trust amid growing public discontent and emerging opposition.

The APC conducted its primaries in May, clearing over 430 chairmanship aspirants. But the exercise was far from smooth. In key areas such as Agege, Mushin, Ikeja, and Somolu, allegations of candidate imposition, lack of transparency, and manipulation of delegate lists triggered unrest. Multiple protests were staged at APC secretariats across the state, with placard-bearing supporters demanding justice and threatening to withdraw support if their preferred aspirants were sidelined.

The APC Appeal Committee, chaired by Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), reportedly received more than 100 petitions from aggrieved aspirants. Many claimed they were unfairly screened out or denied access to recognised delegates. Some accused powerful party leaders of handpicking candidates based on loyalty rather than competence or popularity.

Despite the backlash, the party has defended the credibility of the process. At the official presentation of its candidates, Chairman of the APC Election Committee in Lagos, Barrister B.K. Ogala, said the relatively low number of appeals?about 50 out of 439 tickets?showed the primaries were largely successful.

However, the controversies were far from over. One of the most hotly contested outcomes came from Agege, the stronghold of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa. There, Alhaji Tunde Azeez emerged as the APC?s chairmanship candidate under circumstances described by party insiders as controversial. Azeez was accused of being imposed on the local chapter despite opposition from several quarters. Rumours had circulated earlier that Obasa?s son was being positioned for the role, leading to speculations that the final outcome was the result of internal blackmail and strategic compromises.

Azeez was also accused of using another aspirant?s health condition as political leverage?an allegation he strongly denied in a public statement. Similar scenes of discontent played out in other LGAs, deepening fears that internal wrangling within the APC could affect its performance in Saturday?s elections.

Police impose lockdown to curb violence

Amid the political unease, the Lagos State Police Command has announced a 10-hour restriction of movement on election day. The order, which covers vehicular and boat transportation, will be enforced from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. across the entire state.

Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade said the restriction is aimed at preserving public order and preventing disruptions to the electoral process.

?Only accredited electoral officers, essential service providers, security personnel, and journalists carrying valid LASIEC-issued identification will be permitted to move during the restriction window,? he said.

?Any person or group of persons found attempting to disrupt the electoral process will be arrested and prosecuted,? the commissioner warned, assuring that the command has mobilised officers to key locations to prevent violence and ensure safety.

PDP, Labour Party gear up

Opposition parties in the state, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), have signalled readiness to challenge the APC, though they acknowledge the ruling party?s entrenched control.

PDP State Secretary, Soji Orioye, said the party was entering the race with ?clarity of purpose? and expressed cautious optimism. ?We are good to go into the election as a party,? he said. ?We don?t need to boast about our chances. You know the law. APC is the dominant party; they are at the centre and across the board. We just have to do what we have to do.?

On the movement restriction, Orioye said it was a necessary measure to ensure safety but added that ?under normal conditions, an election shouldn?t take more than four to five hours.?

The Labour Party, which emerged as a strong third force in the 2023 general elections in Lagos, is also fielding candidates across LGAs and LCDAs. State chairperson, Dayo Ekong, said LP candidates are firmly rooted in the grassroots and are contesting with seriousness.

?The people are tired and eager to see a change, and this will mark a new beginning in terms of their welfare,? she said.

Ekong warned voters against selling their votes for short-term gain. ?I want to tell the electorate not to exchange their destiny for N5,000 and be impoverished for the next four years.?

On the recent emergence of an opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ekong was dismissive. ?As far as I?m concerned, ADC is not settled. The people who started with us are still with us. And more are joining. Even if there?s a shift, Peter Obi still retains influence in the Labour Party. We are the credible alternative.?

She also raised security concerns, urging authorities to avoid a repeat of the violence and intimidation witnessed during the 2023 elections in Lagos.

?Politics shouldn?t be the way to vent evil intent by attacking and maiming people. We are calling on the international community to be on the lookout, because everything we do in this country sends either a positive or negative signal,? Ekong said.

LASIEC promises credible poll, but critics remain skeptical

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has pledged a free, fair, and transparent election. It has introduced biometric accreditation and promised real-time result uploads from 13,325 polling units.

Chairperson of the Commission, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (retd), announced that 7,600,195 registered voters are eligible to vote in Saturday?s election. Of this figure, 6,214,975 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected.

At a press conference on Thursday, she said the Commission had engaged stakeholders?including the media, civil society groups, political parties, and Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs)?in an effort to promote inclusivity.

?Materials have already been deployed to LASIEC zonal offices. We have trained our staff and carried out the necessary validations,? she said.

Voting, she said, will start at 8 a.m. and close at 3 p.m.

Okikiolu-Ighile assured that PWDs would be given priority and allowed to come to polling units with assistants. Pregnant women and the elderly would also receive preferential treatment.

?We assure you of credible elections devoid of violence or harassment. We appeal to all candidates to uphold democratic ethos,? she said.

Despite LASIEC?s assurances, critics remain unconvinced. Civil society groups and political observers cite past elections under LASIEC as having been marred by low turnout, credibility issues, and perceptions of pro-government bias.

Political analyst and former chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Lagos, Comrade Bayo Ogunleye, echoed these doubts about the credibility of the election.

?Every local government election organised by SIEC in every state is always the same?the ruling party wins overwhelmingly,? he said. ?Already in Lagos, some parties are boycotting the process. In many areas, if you are not an APC member, you cannot even campaign.?

He argued that the APC?s dominance over the political space has compromised competitiveness and discouraged voter participation. ?This election is not going to be different,? Ogunleye said.

As over seven million registered voters prepare to vote, analysts believe the outcome of Saturday?s elections will offer more than just new council leaders?it may also serve as an early indication of how Lagosians view the APC?s continued hold on power and what lies ahead for the 2027 general elections. (Channels TV)

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