Lagos Decides At Grassroots as Polls Begin in 57 LGAs

Residents of Lagos State are casting their votes today in the much-anticipated local government elections covering all 57 LGAs and LCDAs across the state.

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) confirmed that election materials were deployed early Saturday morning, with polling units opening by 8 a.m. The exercise is expected to end by 3 p.m.

The elections feature 139 chairmanship candidates and 842 councillorship hopefuls from over a dozen political parties. 

Voters will select their local representatives from this pool across 13,000+ polling units.

Police have restricted vehicular movement within the state from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. to facilitate the smooth conduct of the elections. 

Emergency personnel, accredited observers, and media practitioners are exempt from this restriction.

Although LASIEC insists all arrangements are in place for a credible poll, some opposition parties have raised red flags. 

The African Action Congress and others allege that LASIEC has denied their agents proper accreditation and raised concerns over bias.

Observers are on ground to monitor the process, while turnout in some areas remains moderate. 

LASIEC has also introduced a new results management system alongside manual backups to ensure transparency.

As Lagosians head to the ballot boxes, the results of these elections are expected to shape governance at the grassroots level for the next four years.