As it becomes increasingly evident that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) will, no doubt, conduct elections into the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs)—in addition to the 20 constitutionally recognized local government areas (LGAs)—during the forthcoming July 2025 council elections, more voices are rising to caution the state electoral body against becoming an agent of illegality for the ruling political class.
Prominent among these voices is Mr. Ayodele Adio, the Youth Party (YP) Chairmanship Candidate for Eti-Osa Local Government Area. Mr. Adio has expressed serious concerns over LASIEC’s alleged decision to include the 37 LCDAs in the upcoming elections, despite their lack of constitutional recognition.
Appearing recently on News Central Television, Mr. Adio responded to the anchor’s preamble and questioned why the media seemed to be promoting a narrative that legitimizes the 37 LCDAs, even though efforts by stakeholders in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to secure a constitutional amendment to legalize the councils have yet to succeed.
“In your introduction, you mentioned that elections were going to be held in 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs. That was a major issue during the public hearing,” Adio stated. “Just as the Youth Party did in its presentation, several other lawyers and political parties argued clearly that it is illegal to contest elections in the 37 LCDAs, as they are not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“Unfortunately, we seem to be carrying on as usual. The media has helped to propagate the narrative that elections will hold in these LCDAs, which is a clear illegality,” he continued. “If indeed the 37 LCDAs were recognized by law, Hon. Jimi Benson and Hon. James Faleke, who represent Lagos constituencies, would not be sponsoring a constitutional amendment in the National Assembly to legitimize them.”
Adio emphasized that until the Nigerian Constitution is amended to recognize the LCDAs, conducting elections into them remains unlawful.
“Mind you, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the one who created those LCDAs. He was so passionate about them that he fought for them up to the Supreme Court. He has now been president for two years, yet his administration only allocates funds to the 20 constitutionally recognized local governments in Lagos.”
“As passionate as he is about the 37 LCDAs, none of them have received a dime from Abuja. So why are we perpetuating this gross and brazen illegality by planning to conduct elections into offices that are not recognized by law? How is it going to be funded?” he queried.
