The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, on Wednesday, formally presented Certificates of Return to the newly elected Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, and Councillors who emerged victorious in the recently concluded 2025 Local Government and Local Council Development Area, LG/LCDA, elections.
The presentation ceremony, which took place at the LASIEC headquarters in Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, served as the commission’s official endorsement of the mandate conferred by the electorate on the new set of grassroots leaders.
Presiding over the event, the Chairman of LASIEC, Justice Ayotunde Phillips Okikiolu-Ighile, described the occasion as a significant milestone in the democratic journey of Lagos State.
She expressed sincere appreciation to God and to the people of Lagos for their enthusiastic participation and support throughout the electoral process.
“This event transcends the mere presentation of certificates. It represents the embodiment of democratic values and the culmination of several months of strategic planning, civic involvement, and institutional collaboration,”; Justice Okikiolu-Ighile said.
She extended special recognition to the diverse stakeholders who contributed to the success of the elections. These included political actors, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, candidates, security operatives, civil society groups, traditional rulers, youth associations, market associations, faith-based organisations, persons with disabilities, media professionals, accredited election observers, and the voting public.
Justice Okikiolu-Ighile also praised the commitment and professionalism of LASIEC staff and ad-hoc personnel, acknowledging the logistical hurdles experienced in the early stages of the election but commending their resilience and efficiency.
While fielding questions from journalists, the LASIEC Chairman emphasized the peaceful conduct of the elections, noting that both local and international observers described it as one of the most orderly LG polls in recent history.
She also disclosed that voter turnout reached 24 per cent, a remarkable leap from the roughly 10 per cent turnout recorded in the 2021 elections. She attributed the improvement to an aggressive voter sensitisation drive, which leveraged public transport branding and billboard campaigns across the state.
“This turnout is unprecedented and demonstrates that more people came out to vote compared to the last election cycle,”; she said.
