The All Progressives Congress, APC, has taken the lead in Saturday’s local government elections across Lagos State, as vote sorting and collation continue in the 57 local government areas and local council development areas.

Despite the generally peaceful nature of the exercise, voter turnout was notably low across many polling units.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who cast his ballot at his polling unit in the Adeniji-Adele area, addressed journalists shortly after voting.

He acknowledged early logistical hiccups that delayed the start of the process in some areas, attributing them to movement constraints.

As of 4:00 pm, unofficial updates from various polling units indicate that the APC was maintaining a clear lead in multiple areas, including Sanwo-Olu’s own polling unit 006 at St. Stevens Nursery and Primary School, Adeniji-Adele.

Other strongholds where the ruling party showed dominance include Yaba, Somolu, Bariga, Ikeja and Agege.

Preliminary results from these locations suggest that the APC is ahead in both the chairmanship and councillorship races, with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, trailing in second place and the Labour Party (LP) coming third.

Full results are expected to be announced by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, once collation is concluded.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed gratitude to Lagosians for their peaceful participation in Saturday’s Local Government elections across the state.

In a statement issued Saturday evening via his X handle, Sanwo-Olu commended residents for turning out in large numbers to perform their civic duty, describing their orderly conduct as a testament to Lagos’ reputation as the “Centre of Excellence.”

He said, “I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all Lagosians who came out today to perform their civic duty in the local government elections.

“Your peaceful conduct, sense of responsibility, and turnout across polling units have once again demonstrated the true spirit of Lagos, a state built on participation, progress, and people-centred governance.”

Sanwo-Olu also acknowledged the roles played by diverse segments of society such as the youths, elders, market women, artisans, and professionals, in contributing to a smooth and democratic process.

“You have shown that democracy will continue to shape leadership when the people actively participate in elections,” he noted.

The governor also commended security agencies, electoral officials, and the media for ensuring a credible and secure election.

“To our security agencies, the media and electoral officials, I say thank you for your professionalism, dedication, and commitment to ensuring a safe and credible process. Your efforts helped make today a success,” he stated.

As Lagosians await the official results from the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, Sanwo-Olu called on all candidates and political stakeholders to maintain peace and order.

“I urge all candidates and political actors to remain calm, respectful, and law-abiding,” he said, adding that the peaceful conduct of the elections was a bold step in strengthening grassroots democracy.

“Let us keep this spirit alive as we continue to build the Lagos of our dreams — inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous,” he added.

The local government elections were held across Lagos State’s 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.

Vote counting has officially commenced at Polling Unit 024 in Ward B, Makoko area of Yaba, Lagos, marking the winding down of the 2025 local government election across the state.

However, the conclusion of the poll has been overshadowed by a pervasive low voter turnout, raising questions about the exercise’s overall impact.

“The lack of voter enthusiasm could impact the credibility and inclusiveness of the exercise,” an election observer noted, reflecting a sentiment shared by many watching the democratic process unfold.

This concern comes as officials at Polling Unit 002, located in the same Ward B, continued to await the arrival of voters even as counting began elsewhere.

Despite a generally peaceful atmosphere reported across various polling units, voter turnout remained significantly low in many parts of Yaba.

At Ward F, 012, situated along Iwaya Road, voting was still ongoing as of press time, with officials describing the turnout as notably lower than anticipated.

Similar reports echoed from other sections of Iwaya, where Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission officials observed a sluggish pace of voting activity throughout the day.

In contrast, Ward G at St. Timothy College presented a more active scene, with multiple polling units—including 001, 002, 003, 004, and 005—conducting voting in an orderly manner.

This provided a glimpse of the organised process, even amidst the broader challenges of voter engagement.

Election observers, while commending the largely calm and disruption-free process, reiterated their concerns that the palpable lack of voter enthusiasm could indeed impact the credibility and inclusiveness of the local government elections.

LASIEC officials have continued their efforts to encourage eligible voters to come out and cast their ballots before the scheduled close of voting at 3pm.