The just-concluded Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) elections held across Lagos State on Saturday have been described as peaceful and efficiently conducted, drawing commendations from key stakeholders including the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Hon. AbdulHamed Salawu (Dullar).
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who cast his vote at exactly 11:10 a.m. at St. Stephens Nursery and Primary School, Polling Unit 006, Ward E3, Okepopo in Lagos Island East LCDA, expressed satisfaction with the orderly and seamless process of the polls. He was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who also performed her civic duty at the same polling unit.
Speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote, the Governor lauded the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for the smooth coordination of the election process.
“As you can see, everything is okay here. Voting is ongoing, the officers are on ground, and I have just performed my civic responsibility. The atmosphere is peaceful, party agents are present, and within three to four minutes, everything is concluded,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
He further noted that there were no reported shortages of electoral materials, adding that the only initial challenge was mobilising voters to their polling units. However, he confirmed that voting had commenced in most parts of the State based on reports he had received.
The Governor praised LASIEC for its logistics management and coordination, noting that its efforts contributed significantly to the peaceful atmosphere witnessed across polling units. He urged residents to remain peaceful and participate fully in the process to strengthen grassroots governance.
Highlighting the strategic importance of local government to Nigeria’s democratic development, Sanwo-Olu emphasized that grassroots administration must function independently and effectively in line with constitutional provisions.
“Local government is an important arm of government, and their independence is key. Here in Lagos, many of them are executing impactful projects and competing among themselves in terms of development,” he said.
He added that most council chairmen and councillors in the state have embraced the THEMES Plus development agenda of the State Government and are actively contributing to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope initiative.
“Our councils have keyed into the THEMES Plus agenda and are running with it, even at the LCDA level. This shows their commitment to service delivery and grassroots development,” the Governor added.
Also speaking on the success of the council polls, the Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Hon. Abdul-Hamed Salawu ‘Dullar’, applauded the peaceful conduct of the elections within his council and commended residents for their orderly participation.
According to Dullar, the smooth execution of the polls further underscores the growing political awareness and maturity of the electorate in Somolu and Lagos as a whole. He also lauded LASIEC for their transparency, timely distribution of materials, and professionalism of electoral officers deployed across wards in Somolu.
He stated, “We are proud of the conduct of today’s election in Somolu. Our people came out peacefully and participated responsibly. This is a good sign for grassroots democracy. I also thank LASIEC for their impressive coordination and timely deployment of officials and materials.”
With the successful conclusion of the polls, attention now turns to the official announcement of results by LASIEC, as residents await the next phase of leadership in their respective local councils.
The peaceful conduct of the election and the commendations from both state and local government leaders may serve as a benchmark for future local elections in the state and beyond.