Raphael Uche
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a sweeping victory in the July 12, 2025 Local Government elections in Lagos State, as results released so far by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) show the party firmly in control of chairmanship and councillorship positions across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas. The APC, which fielded candidates in all available races, appears poised to maintain its political dominance at the grassroots level in Lagos.
Although the elections were generally peaceful, they were marked by notably low voter turnout across the 13,325 polling units where voters were expected to decide on 57 chairmanship and vice chairmanship seats, as well as 376 councillorship positions. Of the 19 political parties registered with LASIEC, 15 fielded candidates in various positions. The APC ran in all contests, while the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fielded candidates in 45 councils and 259 wards. The Labour Party (LP) had candidates in 22 local governments and 130 wards. Other parties such as the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), African Action Congress (AAC), Action Alliance (AA), and Young Progressives Party (YPP) had minimal representation in the election.
Early results confirmed the APC’s grip on key local councils. In Lagos Island Local Government, Taiwo Oyekan of the APC was declared the winner of the chairmanship election with 28,385 votes, defeating PDP’s Ajibade Olusegun who polled just 1,271 votes. The margin of victory clearly underscored the APC’s dominance in the area. In Amuwo-Odofin, APC’s Prince Lanre Sanusi emerged victorious with 24,926 votes, while his closest challenger, Engr. Seyi Ipinlaye of the Labour Party, trailed with 1,962 votes. Sanusi’s win was described as historic by political observers in the area, following months of grassroots mobilisation and campaign activities. In Agege Local Government Area, the APC candidate, Tunde Azeez, popularly known as “Disco,” was announced the winner with 31,503 votes. His closest rivals, from the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), garnered only 86 and 10 votes respectively, a result that further demonstrated the APC’s electoral advantage.
Candidates of the ruling party commended the process and expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the elections. Adebayo Adefuye, APC’s chairmanship candidate for Yaba LCDA, described the exercise as credible and smooth. After casting his vote, Adefuye outlined his development agenda tagged “Yaba tuntun,” meaning “New Yaba,” which he said would usher in a new era of progress and inclusiveness in local governance. He also lauded the Federal Government’s commitment to enforcing financial autonomy for local governments, a move he believes would enhance accountability and service delivery at the grassroots.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, issued a public statement titled “Thank You, Lagos For Peaceful Local Government Elections,” in which he praised the electorate for their orderly conduct during the polls. He expressed deep appreciation to residents who turned out to vote, stating that their participation was a vital contribution to sustaining democracy in the state. Sanwo-Olu urged all political actors and candidates to remain calm and respectful of the process as LASIEC continues to collate and release official results. He also extended gratitude to security agencies, members of the press, and election officials for their professionalism, cooperation, and dedication to ensuring a secure and transparent electoral process.
With more official announcements expected, the APC looks set to consolidate its position as the leading political force in Lagos State, reinforcing its influence ahead of the 2027 general elections. Despite low turnout, the local government elections appear to have delivered a clear message about the prevailing political landscape in the state and the capacity of dominant parties to mobilize their structures effectively at the grassroots level.