The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of the recently concluded local government elections, describing the process as a mockery of democracy.
The polls, conducted by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), saw the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) claim all 57 chairmanship seats and 375 out of 376 councillorship positions.
Speaking at a press conference held at the PDP secretariat in Alagomeji, Lagos, the Chairman of the Forum of PDP LGA Chairmen, Adegboyega Adegbesan, alleged the elections were characterised by massive irregularities, intimidation of voters, and brazen falsification of results.
According to him, the APC never intended to participate in a free and fair election and instead manipulated the process to its advantage.
He said in several PDP strongholds, ballot box stuffing occurred on a large scale, with pre-thumbprinted ballots allegedly brought to polling units in bags, while electoral officers stood by and did nothing.
PDP agents, he claimed, were harassed, driven from polling centres, and denied access to collation points, allowing results to be altered even before voting was concluded.
Adegbesan also cited instances where the total number of votes recorded exceeded the number of registered voters, and noted that election materials either arrived late or not at all, especially in areas dominated by PDP supporters.
He maintained that the outcome of the polls poses a serious threat to the democratic process and must not go unchallenged.
The PDP leader stressed that this was not just a partisan issue but one of justice and fairness.
He expressed appreciation to the voters who braved the hostile environment to exercise their civic duty and promised that the party would seek redress through legal means.
According to him, the PDP has compiled substantial evidence, including video footage, eyewitness reports, and official discrepancies to present before the election tribunal.
The party also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate LASIEC’s handling of the election and urged civil society organisations, international observers, and democracy watchdogs to condemn the process.
Furthermore, the PDP appealed to the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and ensure justice is served.
The party warned Nigerians—especially the youth—against remaining silent in the face of electoral malpractice, insisting that such inaction only strengthens those working to undermine democracy.
Reaffirming its commitment to restoring electoral credibility in Lagos State, the PDP declared it would not recognise the results or those declared winners through what it described as a fraudulent process.
As of the time of this report, LASIEC had not responded to the PDP’s allegations.
