Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The All Progressives Congress has secured a clean sweep of all three councillorship seats contested in Tuesday's Lagos by-elections, according to results released by the state electoral commission. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission confirmed the victories following the collation of results across the affected wards, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening democratic governance and ensuring effective grassroots representation across Nigeria's commercial capital.
The by-elections were held on June 23, 2026, across three specific wards: Ward C, Orimedu I, in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area; Ward F, Bajulaiye/Fola Agoro, in Shomolu Local Government Area; and Ward H, Kayode/Fadeyi, in Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area. The elections were necessitated by vacancies created following the unfortunate demise of the elected councillors representing the respective wards, which had to be filled in line with democratic principles and the LASIEC laws. According to Section 13(3) of the LASIEC law 2008 (as amended), the dates for holding subsequent general elections or by-elections to a Local Government in the State shall be appointed by the Commission, while Section 13(4) states that the Commission shall appoint a date for holding an election to fill a vacancy in any Local Government.
In the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Orimedu I Ward C, the APC candidate, Rufai Kafayat Abosede, won the councillorship by-election with a commanding 8,386 votes. Her closest rival, Samsideen Adeleke of the African Democratic Congress, managed only 27 votes, while the National Democratic Party recorded no votes in the ward. The result represents a staggering margin of victory, underscoring the APC's dominance in the area and the overwhelming mandate given to the party's candidate by the electorate.
In Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Kayode/Fadeyi Ward H, the APC candidate, Shotayo Samiat Adebigi, secured victory with 3,820 votes, defeating Ifeanyi Abidemi Onwenu of the ADC, who polled 260 votes, while the NDP candidate, Omobolanle Shotayo, received 28 votes. The result reflected a clear preference for the APC candidate, who outperformed her closest rival by more than 3,500 votes, demonstrating the party's strong grassroots appeal in the Mushin axis.
Similarly, in Bajulaiye/Fola Agoro Ward F in Shomolu Local Government Area, the APC's Kehinde Halimat Jolaosho emerged winner after polling 2,546 votes. Her closest challenger, Ifeanyibech Anyamebech of the ADC, scored 157 votes, while the NDP candidate polled 23 votes. The victory completed a clean sweep for the APC, which won all three seats contested in the by-elections, reinforcing its position as the dominant political force in Lagos State.
The Chairman of the Commission, retired Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, who monitored the process along with other members of the Commission and the Permanent Secretary, Abdul Rafiu Fashola, commended the peaceful conduct of voters, political parties, security agencies, election officials, and other stakeholders whose cooperation contributed to the success of the elections. Speaking with journalists after monitoring the elections in Ward F, Somolu Local Government Area, and Ward H, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Okikiolu-Ighile expressed satisfaction with voter participation and dismissed suggestions of poor voter turnout, saying observations from election officials showed impressive participation.
"That actually is not the report we got. From our own polling officers, people have been coming since morning. Some people came before going to work. Some came because they are around and people are still coming. They started since 9 o'clock and it is going to end at 2.00 p.m. Looking at the ballot boxes, without us touching them, we see that they were filled to the extent that we believe they will. The result is that it is very impressive, it is quite impressive," she said. She explained that turnout should not be compared with figures recorded during general elections because the exercise was limited to specific wards. The LASIEC chairman attributed the absence of long queues to the increase in the number of polling units across the affected wards, noting that in Odi-Olowo alone, there were 50 polling units for one ward, while Somolu had 26 and Ibeju-Lekki had 21.
According to LASIEC, electoral materials arrived promptly at polling units, accredited voters exercised their franchise peacefully, and the process was conducted in a secure, transparent, free, fair, and credible manner. The Commission expressed appreciation to the residents of the affected wards for their orderly participation and commitment to the democratic process, while also acknowledging the professionalism displayed by security personnel and the dedication of staff deployed for the exercise. The Commission reiterated its unwavering commitment to conducting credible elections and promoting democratic values at the grassroots level across Lagos State, assuring residents and stakeholders that it would continue to improve electoral processes through innovation, transparency, and stakeholder engagement.
The successful conclusion of these by-elections underscores the Commission's determination to ensure that all communities in Lagos State enjoy adequate representation and participation in local governance. The by-elections were held following an official announcement by LASIEC on June 11, 2026, which set the date for the polls and outlined the timeline for party nominations and campaigns. Registered political parties were required to purchase nomination forms at the LASIEC Headquarters, located at 1 Lancaster Street, Sabo, Yaba, with campaigns running from June 12 to June 16, 2026. The display of the register of voters at ward collation centres took place on June 13, while the validation of candidates' documents and the display of the list of validated and invalidated candidates were held on June 17, 2026.
The elections come at a time when Lagos State continues to grapple with the challenges of urbanisation, infrastructure development, and effective service delivery at the grassroots level. The councillors elected in these by-elections are expected to play a critical role in addressing the needs of their constituents, particularly in the areas of waste management, primary healthcare, education, and local infrastructure. The outcomes of the elections also provide a glimpse into the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the APC's decisive victories in all three wards signalling its continued electoral strength in Lagos State.
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