The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State has expressed dissatisfaction with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) over its handling of the guidelines for the upcoming 2025 Local Government election in the state. In a statement issued on Saturday by Mrs. Temilade Akinade, IPAC’s Chairperson, and George Ashiru, the council’s Public Relations Officer, the group criticized the commission for what it described as an improper release of the election guidelines.
LASIEC had earlier announced that the local government elections would take place on July 12, 2025, in the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). However, IPAC, which represents all 19 registered political parties in Lagos, accused LASIEC of flouting established communication protocols in the way the guidelines were released.
According to the council, LASIEC’s failure to engage political parties on key issues concerning the election before the release of the guidelines was a significant oversight. IPAC also raised concerns over the secrecy surrounding many aspects of the election, which it said were still unclear. The council specifically pointed to unresolved issues surrounding the Supreme Court’s ruling on Local Government autonomy and how it might impact the 37 LCDAs created by the Lagos State Government.
The statement further revealed that IPAC had only recently learned that a revised LASIEC law, which empowers the commission to conduct executive elections in all 57 LGs and LCDAs in the state, was signed into law on January 10, 2025, after being approved by the governor on January 9. IPAC expressed surprise that such an important piece of legislation had not been made publicly available, with the council adding that no copies of the revised law had been shared with them for distribution to political parties.
IPAC also expressed disappointment with the current LASIEC board, headed by Justice Mobolanle Okikiola-Ighinle (retd.), for failing to establish a transparent and consistent relationship with political parties. According to the council, the board has only met with political party representatives once since January, and that meeting was initiated by IPAC itself. The council believes that LASIEC should have held regular meetings to discuss the new law and its implications for the 2025 elections.
The statement called for more frequent and meaningful engagement between LASIEC and political parties, emphasizing the importance of transparency and communication to ensure the smooth conduct of free and fair elections. IPAC cited the example of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State, noting that continuous engagement and transparent communication were key to a well-conducted election.
The council further criticized LASIEC for the late release of the election guidelines, which it argued could lead to misinterpretations and accusations of a predetermined outcome. IPAC stressed that such errors could undermine the integrity of the electoral process, making it crucial for the commission to address these concerns promptly and engage with all stakeholders in a more open and consistent manner.
