Lagos IPAC Faults LASIEC Over Sudden Release of 2025 LG Election Guidelines, Cites Lack of Consultation, Transparency, and Secrecy Around New Electoral Law
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State has criticized the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) over the release of guidelines for the 2025 Local Government elections.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday by its Chairperson, Mrs. Temilade Akinade, and Public Relations Officer, Mr. George Ashiru, IPAC said LASIEC breached protocol in the way it announced the guidelines.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LASIEC had, on Friday, scheduled the elections for July 12 across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Reacting, IPAC the umbrella body of all 19 registered political parties in Lagos faulted the commission for releasing the guidelines without prior consultation with political parties, describing the move as opaque and lacking due process.
“Critical questions remain unanswered, especially regarding the interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling on LG autonomy and its implication for the 37 LCDAs created by the state government,” the statement read.
IPAC revealed that it was only recently informed of a revised LASIEC law, which empowers the commission to conduct executive elections in all 57 LGs and LCDAs. The law, reportedly approved on January 9 and signed by the governor on January 10, has not been made publicly available, nor shared with political parties.
“This came as a shock to IPAC. A law of such magnitude should be in the public domain,” the council stated.
IPAC also accused the new LASIEC board, chaired by Retired Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile, of failing to maintain transparent and consistent engagement with political parties, noting that only one meeting initiated by IPAC has been held since January.
The council urged LASIEC to learn from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos, particularly on communication, transparency, and consistent stakeholder engagement.
“The late release of guidelines and the absence of regular dialogue with political parties suggest a troubling lack of preparedness and transparency. Such actions may be misinterpreted as pointing towards a predetermined outcome,” the council warned.
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