The Chairperson of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Hon. Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile (retd), has said the commission is fully prepared to conduct the upcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday, July 13, 2025, adding that there is no legal breach regarding the timing of the polls.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Okikiolu-Ighile responded to concerns about the preparedness of the commission, the use of technology in the polls, and questions raised over the legality of conducting elections before the expiration of the tenure of current council officials. She dismissed suggestions that LASIEC was acting in breach of its own guidelines or any extant electoral law.

According to her, LASIEC has been working round the clock since her board was constituted in January this year, despite the short timeframe, to ensure that a credible, inclusive and timely election is conducted across the state’s 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). She described the assignment as demanding but necessary.

“It has not been easy. I will let you know that it has not been easy at all,” she said. “But we just knew when we came in that there had been a lot of time wasted and we had to make sure that we were up to the task.”

She explained that upon assumption of office, the new board quickly swung into action by visiting LASIEC offices in all the LGAs and LCDAs to familiarise themselves with the staff, assess the availability of facilities such as storage and logistics, and identify immediate needs. This, she said, provided the commission with insight into both the successes and shortcomings of past electoral exercises.

The LASIEC chair noted that beyond internal evaluations, the commission also engaged with political stakeholders and security agencies in preparation for the polls. Meetings were held with the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and even the Inspector-General of Police, to discuss the security framework for the elections. She said the commission also held expanded stakeholders’ forums across the five senatorial districts of the state where party leaders, traditional rulers, market women, youth representatives, and persons with disabilities were all engaged.

“We wanted everyone to feel included and be part of the process. From the beginning, our message was clear: it’s an election year in Lagos and everyone must be involved,” she said.

One of the more controversial issues raised during the interview was the use of technology in the elections. Okikiolu-Ighile confirmed that LASIEC would not be using the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a tool employed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the conduct of the elections. Instead, the commission would rely on a mix of manual and semi-electronic methods, which she said were tested ahead of the elections.

“We are not using BVAS, but we are using some electronic support through mobile telephones. It is a model that allows for verification and collation in a simplified way,” she said.

Pressed on the concern that many voters and even some political stakeholders appear unaware of the specifics of the voting process, she said efforts had been made to improve voter education. According to her, LASIEC teams visited schools, markets and even tertiary institutions across the state, holding sensitisation programmes to inform citizens about the process.

The LASIEC boss also responded to the suggestion that the commission might be walking into a legal landmine by scheduling elections ahead of the official expiration of the tenure of incumbent council chairmen and councillors, which ends on July 26, 2025. She disagreed with the notion that holding the election on July 13 contradicts the law, insisting that the commission is acting within its constitutional mandate.

“There is no breach. The law is clear that elections must hold before the expiration of the current tenure. The goal is to ensure there is no vacuum in governance. We have done our due diligence,” she said.

She also emphasised that the voters’ register to be used for the election is the one provided by INEC and that polling booths and locations are those assigned by INEC for general elections. This, she said, would help ensure continuity and avoid confusion for voters already familiar with the system.

Okikiolu-Ighile said the commission relied heavily on experienced staff within LASIEC, many of whom she described as veterans with deep institutional knowledge of elections in Lagos. “We made use of each and every one of them,” she said. “Their insight helped us avoid the mistakes of the past.”

Security is also a major concern, especially with the potential for political tension or voter apathy. But the LASIEC chair assured that adequate arrangements have been made to secure electoral materials and personnel during and after the polls.

She acknowledged that low voter turnout has historically been a problem in local council elections across the country, but expressed hope that the commission’s outreach efforts and improved public confidence would result in better participation this time.

“We are ready. We have worked hard. Now, we urge Lagosians to come out and vote peacefully,” she said.