Democracy in Action: Lagos State's 2024 Local Elections

Strategic Insights -

As over seven million registered voters in Lagos State gear up to cast their ballots in the upcoming local elections on July 12, the future of governance and the kind of communities they envision for themselves and their generations hang in the balance. Local elections, often eclipsed by national contests, are the most intimate and immediate expression of democracy, with voter turnout historically hovering around 11% in Lagos. However, with governance being about the people, the local government should matter the most, and Lagosians are entrusted with the democratic responsibility to elect leaders who will govern the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). These councils are the engines of grassroots development, tasked with delivering essential services and fostering real-time solutions to community needs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has expanded polling units to 13,325, dotting the state across 376 electoral wards, significantly improving access to voting and ensuring that voters can participate in the democratic process with greater ease and dignity.
  • Voter accreditation will be swiftly and efficiently conducted using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a biometric device that verifies identity using fingerprint or facial recognition, and real-time result transmission from polling units will be implemented via digital portals, ensuring a transparent and tamper-resistant process.
  • Special arrangements have been made to prioritize voting procedures for the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities, with the help of voter assistants, signaling a growing awareness that inclusion must be more than a slogan; it must be action.
  • The reforms are in place, and the systems are set, but it is now the citizens' turn to complete the democratic equation by showing up and casting their votes, which is essential for a truly representative and inclusive democracy.
  • The 2021 general elections in Lagos State were widely regarded as largely peaceful, with stakeholders and civil society organizations reporting no major hiccups, and this momentum must be sustained and expanded.
  • Among the 19 registered political parties, choices abound for every Lagosian over the age of 18 who holds a valid Permanent Voter Card (PVC), as democracy is not measured solely by how many names appear on the ballot, but by how many hands reach for it.

Statistics:

  • 7,000,000 - The number of registered voters in Lagos State ahead of the 2024 local elections (accorded to the source).
  • 13,325 - The number of polling units across the state, significantly improved to ensure that voters can participate in the democratic process with greater ease and dignity.
  • 376 - The number of electoral wards across the state where polling units are located.
  • 11% - The voter turnout in the last local government elections held in Lagos in 2021.
  • 20 - The number of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos State.
  • 37 - The number of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State.

Sources:

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