Youth Party, Labour Party Reject Lagos LG Polls, Allege Massive Rigging by APC

The Youth Party has fiercely criticized the conduct of the Lagos State Local Government elections held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, labeling the process as “shambolic” and “blatantly rigged” in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Their condemnation echoes that of the Labour Party, which earlier described the elections as a “dangerous blueprint for electoral fraud” ahead of the 2027 general elections.

On Sunday, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) declared APC candidates winners of all 57 chairmanship seats and 375 out of 376 councillorship positions, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) securing just one ward.

In a strongly worded statement, the Youth Party’s Lagos State Chairman, Francisco Doregos, accused LASIEC of conducting a deeply flawed election marred by voter suppression and widespread irregularities.

“The Lagos Local Government Elections were, as expected, a disgraceful charade—rigged with impunity to favour APC candidates,” Doregos said. He alleged that LASIEC had been compromised from the beginning, citing the appointment of partisan commissioners closely aligned with the APC.

Doregos also pointed to the failure of LASIEC to meet key legal obligations, such as timely publication of election notices and the voters’ register. He further accused security operatives of harassing and obstructing Youth Party candidates during the exercise.

Despite the challenges, Doregos insisted the Youth Party outperformed all other opposition parties in areas where it fielded candidates. “We were the clear favourites among voters—without manipulation,” he added, claiming the party emerged as the top choice ahead of the PDP, AA, ZLP, and others in several polling units.

Similarly, the Labour Party issued a scathing rebuke of the process. In a statement released by Senator Nenadi Usman, Chair of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, and signed by her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, the party condemned what it described as “shameless electoral theft” by the APC, allegedly enabled by LASIEC.

“The charade that occurred in Lagos under the guise of local government elections has again exposed the APC’s disdain for democratic values and due process,” the statement read.

The Labour Party reported widespread irregularities across the state, including pre-filled result sheets and ballot boxes stuffed with thumb-printed ballots before voting commenced.

“Even the usual pretense of fairness has now been abandoned,” the party lamented, demanding an immediate cancellation of the results and the conduct of fresh, transparent elections.

Calling for calm among supporters, the Labour Party said the events in Lagos should alarm all lovers of democracy. “Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, must not be turned into a circus of electoral manipulation,” the statement concluded.