As Lagos gears up for its July 12 local government elections, candidates for both chairmanship and councillorship positions thronged the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) office in Sabo-Yaba on Thursday for the commencement of the official credential validation exercise.
The LASIEC Chairman, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (retd.), confirmed that the verification process began on Thursday and would run through Monday, stressing that all electoral officers—including commissioners and the permanent secretary—were working tirelessly to ensure a smooth process.
“The validation started today (Thursday), and it will run till Monday. We must conclude the process, and no one is going home until it’s done,” she said during a briefing at the commission’s Yaba office.
A Hobnob News correspondent at the LASIEC premises observed long queues of aspirants representing various political parties, submitting their documents for vetting.
According to the commission, 15 out of 19 registered political parties in Lagos will participate in the local government polls.
Sanwo-Olu Appeals for Commitment, Suggests Remote Work
In light of the growing traffic congestion expected due to election activities and ongoing city-wide infrastructure projects, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu earlier advised Lagos residents to consider remote work arrangements where possible.
Speaking during the APC stakeholders’ parley at the State House in Marina on Tuesday, the governor also charged party flagbearers not to take the upcoming elections lightly.
“Let no one assume the race is already won. We must engage voters and validate our dominance through hard work and community presence,” Sanwo-Olu told APC chairmanship and councillorship candidates as he presented them with party flags.
The governor emphasized the need for peaceful, issue-based campaigns while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening local governance and ensuring inclusive development across the state.
The July 12 election will be a major test of grassroots political engagement in Lagos and is expected to set the tone for future state-wide polls.
About The Author
