The Lagos State chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has demanded the immediate and total cancellation of the July 12 local government elections in the state, describing the exercise as a “monumental electoral fraud marred by brazen rigging, gross incompetence, and orchestrated voter suppression.”
In a fiery and uncompromising statement jointly signed by the party’s Chairman, Ayoyinka Oni, and State Secretary, Jedege Kehinde, the AAC did not mince words in condemning the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), accusing it of colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to rob the people of their democratic rights through a sham process devoid of transparency, integrity, or order.
> “The outcome of today’s election is nothing to write home about. This disaster was predictable. As we’ve always said, the foundation of a building determines whether it can withstand a storm—and LASIEC built this election on quicksand,” the AAC declared.
According to the AAC, electoral officials and materials arrived scandalously late at virtually all polling units, with many LASIEC personnel showing up around midday or even later—long after eligible voters had grown weary and returned home in frustration.
> “This delay was deliberate. It was a calculated attempt to disenfranchise voters, particularly in opposition strongholds. Our agents across all LGAs reported the same disturbing pattern—officials arriving hours late and failing to offer any explanation,” the party noted.
The AAC further accused LASIEC of logistical incompetence and operational sabotage. It cited reports from ad-hoc staff who complained bitterly about receiving ballot papers late and being denied basic logistical support.
> “You can imagine the level of incompetence. Ballot papers arrived late, some party logos were missing, and even LASIEC’s own staff expressed dismay at how they were abandoned on election day,” the party lamented.
One of the AAC’s most damning accusations centered around the absence of certain political party logos—an omission that the party claims was neither accidental nor coincidental.
> “The deliberate exclusion of party logos from ballot papers is a dangerous subversion of the electoral process. It is a cynical and criminal act designed to suppress opposition votes and mislead voters,” the statement read.
Perhaps the most explosive portion of the AAC’s release was its direct accusation that LASIEC officials not only turned a blind eye to electoral malpractice—but actively enabled it.
> “We have evidence that LASIEC staff shamelessly accepted bribes from APC agents. They allowed thugs loyal to the ruling party to hijack polling stations and openly rig the vote,” the AAC charged.
> “There was no accreditation, no verification, nothing! Anyone with a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) could cast a ballot, regardless of whose name was on it—assuming the voters’ list was even checked at all.”
Breakdown of Security and Surge in Violence
The AAC also condemned the near-total collapse of security during the election. In areas such as Ikosi-Isheri, Mile 12, and Ajeromi-Ifelodun, violence reportedly broke out as thugs intimidated voters, disrupted the polls, and clashed with those who resisted manipulation.
> “Security was non-existent. Police presence was minimal, and when present, they were either overwhelmed or unwilling to act. A DPO shockingly told a complainant, ‘we can’t be everywhere’—a statement that perfectly encapsulates the rot in the system,” the AAC said.
The party warned that ignoring violence and threats on election day is tantamount to collusion, stating, “When the security agencies look away in the face of such chaos, they become accomplices to the crime.”
Call for Total Annulment and National Scrutiny
Rejecting the election in its entirety, the AAC called for the full cancellation of the results and urged the people of Lagos and the wider Nigerian public to stand firm against what it called “a brazen mockery of democracy.”
> “This cannot be called a free election—let alone a fair one. It is a disgrace to democracy and a slap in the face of every Lagosian who believes in the sanctity of the ballot,” the party concluded.
The AAC also demanded that LASIEC be held accountable for what it termed “a total breach of electoral guidelines and betrayal of public trust,” insisting that “no credible democracy can be built on such a rotten foundation.”
PIONEER NEWS 