Robust Security Deployed Across Lagos as LG Polls Get Underway

A heavy security presence has been deployed across Lagos State, including at the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) headquarters and polling units, as the Local Government elections commenced today, Saturday, July 12, 2025. The intensified security measures are aimed at ensuring a safe, orderly, and credible electoral process for citizens participating in the grassroots polls.

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command and other security agencies were strategically deployed to critical locations from the early hours of the day. The deployments extend beyond the LASIEC headquarters in Yaba to cover all 13,325 polling units across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The Lagos State Police Command had earlier announced a total restriction on vehicular movement across the state from 3:00 AM to 3:00 PM today, to facilitate unhindered movement of election officials and materials, and to deter any potential disruptions. The restriction applies to both roads and waterways, with strict prohibitions on the use of armed escorts, sirens, and vehicles with covered number plates. The Police also emphasized that no state-owned security agencies are authorized to participate in election security operations, in strict adherence to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a message to Lagosians on Friday, had affirmed that security agencies were directed to be “strategically deployed across all polling units and communities.” He urged all stakeholders, particularly the youth, to “shun any form of violence and instead act as ambassadors of peace and democratic responsibility.”

The robust security architecture is a proactive measure designed to protect voters, electoral officials, and sensitive election materials, thereby fostering an environment conducive for citizens to freely exercise their franchise. As voters trickle into polling units across the state, the visible presence of law enforcement personnel aims to instill confidence and deter any attempts at electoral malpractice or thuggery.

Despite some pre-election concerns raised by civil society organizations regarding the transparency and legality of certain aspects of the election timetable, the focus of the state government and security agencies remains on ensuring a peaceful and credible conduct of the polls, which will determine the leadership at the grassroots level for the next four years.