The All Progressives Congress, APC has emerged victorious at the local council elections in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, held on Saturday.
The ruling party won all the Chairmanship seats in the twenty local governments and thirty-seven local council development areas.
It also won all the legislative seats in the wards except that of Yaba local council which was won by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, Retired Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu- Ighile commended Lagos residents for their maturity and peaceful conduct at the polls, describing it as a strong affirmation of grassroots Democracy.
” I commend the good people of Lagos State for their maturity and peaceful conduct during Saturday’s election. Your encouragement reinforces our shared belief in the importance of local governments in service delivery and grassroots development, she said”.
There are 7,060,195 voters in Lagos with 6,014,970 having collected their PVCs.
How the Parties fared
The APC maintained its domineering presence in the grassroots with 375 legislative seats.
It once again proved that it is the Party to beat at any local election.
The Opposition Peoples Democratic Party won one legislative seat which was as a result of the late defection of one of the APC aspirants who was denied the ticket by the party and therefore decided to peach his tent with and test his popularity with the opposition. He won convincingly at the polls
The Labour party had a lacklustre outing at the loca council election.
For a party that won the Presidential election in the State during the general election, it was a dismal performance. The party could not even field candidates in some local governments.
Some other parties, like the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP withdrew from participating at the council polls, citing inconsistencies by the regulatory, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission.
Voice of Nigeria reported earlier that the local council elections though peaceful staretd quite late in many parts of the State and recorded very low turnout, indicating increasing voter apathy at such grassroots elections
Confidence Okwuchi