Lagos sets July 12 for local government elections

• Lagos local government elections set for July 12, 2025, with a supplementary poll scheduled for July 19 if needed
• LASIEC confirms elections for 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship positions across 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs
• LASIEC Chairman, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (rtd), vows free, fair, and inclusive elections with a level playing field

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has officially fixed July 12, 2025, for the much-awaited local government elections across the state.

Announcing the date on Friday, April 11, LASIEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Tope Ojo, confirmed that the elections will cover 57 council chairmanship positions and 376 councillorship seats spread across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

In the event of any inconclusive polls, a supplementary election has been slated for July 19, 2025.

The development comes as the tenure of current local council officials approaches its expiration, prompting LASIEC to activate its electoral machinery to prevent any governance vacuum at the third tier of government.

“The commission has issued the official Notice of Election, signalling the start of full electoral activities. Political parties can now obtain nomination forms for their candidates at the LASIEC headquarters,” Ojo said.

As part of its engagement strategy, LASIEC has scheduled a meeting with all registered political parties for Tuesday, April 15. 

It also announced that the full Election Guidelines will be released on April 17, outlining key timelines, rules of engagement, and nomination procedures.

Campaigns and political rallies are to begin on April 18 and will run until July 9, giving political parties close to three months to reach out to voters and showcase their manifestos.

According to the electoral timetable, the nomination of “only candidates” and “substituted candidates” must be completed between June 18 and June 25.

Reiterating the commission’s commitment to a credible electoral process, the LASIEC Chairman, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (rtd), assured the public that the election will be free, fair, inclusive, and transparent.

“We are fully committed to delivering a credible election that strengthens grassroots democracy. LASIEC will ensure a level playing field for all political parties, irrespective of their size or popularity,” she said.

Justice Phillips also called on political parties, civil society groups, security agencies, and citizens to work collectively to guarantee a peaceful and orderly election.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has consistently highlighted the significance of functional local governance in driving development across Lagos. 

With over 90% of public services and community development initiatives implemented at the council level, credible local elections are deemed critical to maintaining Lagos’ reputation for effective urban governance.

As political parties gear up for the polls, analysts believe the July 12 elections will be a major test of Lagos’ political landscape, setting the tone for potential realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC announces date for 2026 FCT area council elections

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially announced that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections will be held on February 21, 2026. 

Yakubu explained that the last area council election in the FCT took place on February 12, 2022, and the tenure of the current chairmen and councillors will come to an end in 2026. 

Consequently, INEC approved the date for the next election, which will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026.