Lagos residents will head to the polls on Saturday, July 12, 2025, as the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) officially confirms the setup of 13,325 polling units across the state for the much-anticipated Local Government Council Elections.

The polls, which span across 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), are seen as pivotal ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Voting Guidelines and Security Measures

According to LASIEC, voting will commence at 8:00 a.m. and end by 3:00 p.m., with security agencies enforcing a restriction of movement between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. across the state.

In a statement issued by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, the earlier restriction timeline of 3:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. was adjusted for flexibility.

“The adjustment is intended to facilitate residents’ mobility in the event of a medical emergency, appointments, or overseas vacation arrangements,” Hundeyin said on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

At least four security officers will be stationed at each polling unit to maintain order, and special provisions have been made for pregnant women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, LASIEC confirmed.

Campaign Season Closes, Ballots Await

Campaigns officially concluded on Wednesday, July 9, marking the end of months-long party primaries and consultations. LASIEC has already published the final list of chairmanship and councillorship candidates on July 5, while notice-of-poll posters were distributed across ward collation centres from July 4.

Out of all registered voters, 6.2 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected, while 8,450 PVCs remain unclaimed. Despite missing documentation by some aspirants, LASIEC insists the process was conducted with full transparency and in line with electoral laws.

“We have engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including the media, people living with disabilities, and political parties, to ensure inclusiveness and openness,” LASIEC stated.

LASIEC Urges Peace, Warns Against Vote-Buying

In a strong appeal for peace, LASIEC Chairman, Justice Bola Okikiolu‑Ighile, called on voters to conduct themselves responsibly and warned against electoral malpractice.

“We urge all registered voters to avoid vote-buying and violence. Voting must take place only at designated polling units where individuals are registered,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force has reiterated its preparedness to ensure peaceful elections and is calling on the public to cooperate with electoral officers and law enforcement agents throughout the process.

A wave of frustration is rising from Ikun Akoko, a major community in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, as residents decry years of abandonment by successive governments, culminating in a heartfelt open letter to the state governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

The letter, signed by Oluwasanmi Alli and endorsed by the Regent of Ikun Akoko, Her Royal Majesty Kabiyesi Omobolanle Jacobs (née Olokunbola), outlines a litany of infrastructural failures, lack of political appointments, and decaying public services that have left the town “on the brink of total disconnection from the rest of Ondo State.”

“This letter is written with deep concern and a sense of responsibility to draw your Excellency’s attention to the prolonged neglect of our dear community,” the letter reads. “Ikun Akoko is part of Ondo State. We seek not favors, but fairness. We ask to be seen, heard, and included.”

Collapsed Roads Crippling Economic Life

The people of Ikun Akoko detailed the dire state of all three major access roads to their town, now virtually impassable due to years of neglect:

Oba–Ikun–Idoani Road – Originally flagged off in 2016 by late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the road has since been abandoned and now poses a danger to motorists.

Iwaro–Ikun Road – Completely broken down and hazardous.

Ipe–Oke Afo–Ikun Route – So poor that motorcycles can barely pass.

According to the letter, these road conditions have devastated the local economy, cutting farmers off from markets and deterring traders. The consequences, they say, are severe.

“Farmers cannot transport their produce, and traders avoid the town or impose high costs on residents due to transport challenges. This situation is stifling commerce, education, and access to healthcare.”

Zero Representation in Over 300 Political Appointments

The letter also criticizes the recent wave of political appointments by the Aiyedatiwa administration, which included over 300 individuals across the state but allegedly excluded the Ikun Ward entirely.

“This exclusion has further deepened the feeling of marginalization among our people,” it said, highlighting that the town has consistently supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) but has received no returns in development or representation.

Education and Health in Crisis

Educational and healthcare facilities in the town are described as “deplorable.” The letter notes a severe shortage of teachers, with primary schools lacking staff entirely and the secondary school operating with less than seven teachers. The local health centre is also said to be grossly understaffed and under-equipped.

“These failings pose a direct threat to the future and well-being of our people, particularly our children,” the letter laments.

Three-Point Appeal to the Governor

In a constructive tone, the letter lays out three key appeals to Governor Aiyedatiwa:

1. Immediate rehabilitation of major roads leading into Ikun Akoko.

2. Inclusion of Ikun indigenes in future political appointments.

3. Intervention in the education and health sectors of the town.

Despite their grievances, the people of Ikun Akoko reaffirm their loyalty to the state and to Governor Aiyedatiwa.

“We remain loyal and committed to the development of our dear state,” the letter concludes.

A Wake-Up Call on Rural Inclusion

The situation in Ikun Akoko raises broader questions about rural inclusion and equitable development in Ondo State. With the rainy season worsening the already bad road network, the call for immediate government intervention is gaining urgency.

As of the time of reporting, the Ondo State Government has not issued an official response to the letter.

The lingering Kano Emirate Crisis took a volatile turn on Monday as loyalists of the deposed Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, were reportedly forced out of the main palace now occupied by the reinstated Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, triggering tension and violent clashes that prompted police investigation.

According to Naija News sources, several palace residents, including long-serving staff and title holders who supported Bayero during the emirship tussle, were asked to vacate their quarters in the historic Gidan Rumfa palace.

Eyewitnesses allege that roofs of certain palace residences were forcibly removed to pressure the occupants to leave. Among those affected by the controversial eviction were senior palace officials including Galadiman Sallama, Sani Kwano, Dan-Habu Maji-Dadi, Sule Makama, Sarkin-Yakin Dan-Rimi, Sarkin Lema, Sarkin Tafarki, Baba Ta’aji, Oji Driver, Odiye Driver, and Bale na Sarkin Bichi.

Families of the affected individuals reportedly resisted eviction attempts, causing chaos and distress within the palace grounds by Monday evening.

This latest development comes in the wake of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s decision in May 2024 to dissolve the five emirates created under former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, reinstating Sanusi as the sole Emir of Kano. Sanusi had been dethroned in 2020, and Bayero installed in his place.

Despite his removal, Bayero continues to claim the throne, operating from the Nassarawa mini-palace, and is challenging the legality of his dethronement in court.

Police Probe Palace Violence

Meanwhile, tensions boiled over into violence on Sunday when supporters of both royal figures clashed at the Kofar-Kudu area of Kano metropolis. The Kano State Police Command has now launched an investigation.

Speaking to Punch, the command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed:

“The CP, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has set up a panel to investigate the altercation.”

Reports say the clash erupted when Bayero’s convoy attempted to pass through Kofar-Kudu on the way from Mandawari residence to Nassarawa mini-palace, only to encounter resistance from Sanusi loyalists.

An eyewitness disclosed that the confrontation led to the vandalism of the Gidan Rumfa palace gate, injuries to guards, and damage to police vehicles.

“The timely and prompt response of the police prevented the incident from degenerating into a full-blown bloody clash,” the source stated.

Police officers reportedly fired tear gas to disperse the feuding groups and restore order.

Royal Divide Widens

The political and cultural fallout from the emirship reversal has left the Kano royal institution deeply divided. While Sanusi now occupies the traditional seat at Gidan Rumfa, Bayero’s continued claim and the presence of his supporters in the system have heightened instability.

Traditional title holders and district heads now find themselves caught in a delicate balance between loyalty and survival in a charged atmosphere of legal uncertainty and political interference.

As the courts continue to deliberate on the legitimacy of the dethronement and reinstatement, analysts warn that the crisis risks damaging the legacy and unity of one of Nigeria’s most revered traditional institutions.