Rigged From the Start? Labour Party Accuses LASIEC, INEC of Plotting Victory for APC in Lagos LG Polls

The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has accused the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the upcoming local government elections in the state.

According to reports, LP’s Caretaker Chairman, Nifemi Adeyemi—aligned with the Senator Nenadi Usman faction—made the accusation while addressing journalists.

Adeyemi, who is vying for the position of Chairman of Ikorodu West Local Government under the Labour Party, claimed that both LASIEC and INEC have compromised their neutrality.

“We want to inform the public that LASIEC in Lagos is no longer independent. It has become a compromised institution. The same applies to INEC—they are no longer impartial arbiters,” he asserted.

He alleged that despite the current leadership of the party being legally recognized under Usman, LASIEC went ahead to issue nomination forms to a faction that had already been dismissed by the Supreme Court.

“To our utter shock, LASIEC issued forms to a faction that has been invalidated by the apex court. It’s alarming how lawlessness is becoming normalized in Nigeria,” Adeyemi lamented.

He further claimed that LASIEC Chairman, Bola Okikiolu, told them she was acting based on instructions from Abuja—a claim allegedly denied by officials at INEC headquarters.

“Our legal team is currently in Abuja, and INEC there insists that no such directive was issued,” he stated.

Adeyemi condemned LASIEC’s actions, vowing that the Labour Party would resist any attempt to marginalize its candidates in Lagos.

“This is a calculated attempt to disenfranchise Labour Party candidates in the state. But we will resist it. Nigeria must not be allowed to descend into a one-party dictatorship,” he told Vanguard.