• Police restrict vehicular movement, ban escorts
• CHSR seeks postponement of election
Ahead of the Lagos State local council elections, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre has called on the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to defy public scepticism and uphold a credible, transparent, and impartial electoral process.
HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, stated this, yesterday, during the public unveiling of the latest edition of HEDA’s Leadership Approval Rating (LAR), Volume 5, Issue 2, titled “From Apathy to Action: A Reform Blueprint for SIECs and Community-Level Democracy.”
He noted that LASIEC has a unique opportunity to rewrite the narrative of state electoral commissions, often viewed as tools of incumbent state governments.
“This is a golden opportunity for LASIEC to prove that a state electoral body can operate independently, professionally, and with integrity,” Arigbabu said.
HEDA Consultant, Ridwan Sulaimon, said that technology could be a powerful equaliser. He also lamented the low level of media and observer attention paid to local council elections, calling it ironic, given that they are the most manipulated tier of Nigeria’s democratic process.
Also, HEDA’s Programme Consultant, Sina Odugbemi, pointed to structural issues undermining SIECs’ independence, especially around funding and appointments. Chairman of HEDA, Olanrewaju Suraju, described the LAR survey as a roadmap for reform.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, said that there would be a total restriction of all vehicular movement from 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025, until 3:00 p.m. the same day.
The restriction, according to a statement by the Spokesman of the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, would apply to all roads and waterways across the state.
The Command also prohibited armed escorts and security aides in the polling units and collation centres across the state.It also declared that the indiscriminate use of sirens and covered number plates is prohibited.
The Command, however, clarified that observers and media practitioners on election coverage, who are accredited by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), are exempted from the vehicular restriction.
HOWEVER, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has called for the postponement of the poll, due to the state’s failure to implement the Local Government Administrative Law.
The group, which made the call during a peaceful protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly premises, expressed deep concerns, and unequivocal opposition towards the delay in the implementation of the law signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on May 7, 2025.
The CHSR President, Alex Omotehinse, who commended the executive arm for enacting the critical law aimed at improving the framework of local governance in Lagos State, expressed concern on what it termed an unconstitutional decision to defer its implementation until August 4, 2025, a date conveniently set after the scheduled local council election on July 12, 2025.
“This calculated delay is not only unjustifiable but also undermines the spirit and letter of the Constitution, as well as democratic norms Lagos State has always prided itself on upholding,” he said.
According to him, a law takes effect upon assent and becomes effective from the date of assent unless expressly stated otherwise within the law itself.
