The 2025 Lagos Local Government Chairmanship election has come and gone, but what it left behind is louder than the campaign slogans that flooded the streets.
In what was supposed to be a vital test of grassroots democracy, voter turnout slumped dramatically, with some local government areas reporting figures below 30 percent.
In the political capital of Nigeria’s southwest, this was not just an election, it was a warning shot.
And if the political class is paying attention, that warning is clear: 2027 will not be business as usual.
A Democracy Without the People? Lagos LG Poll
Across Lagos from Agege to Epe, Surulere to Badagry, the signs were unmistakable.
Empty polling units.
Ballot boxes waiting to be filled.
Electoral officials idle, some yawning from boredom, others checking their phones.
In several wards, polling units that had prepared for hundreds barely saw a trickle of voters.
In some extreme cases, units that registered over 500 voters recorded just a dozen ballots cast by the end of the day.
Election observers, where present, were shocked by the sheer scale of disinterest.
Even in traditionally high-turnout LGAs like Alimosho and Mushin, numbers fell drastically compared to the last local government election.
Residents went about their day, many treating the declared movement restriction as a public holiday.
For those who spoke to reporters, the reasons varied from frustration with the system, to a belief that “their votes don’t count,” or simply a lack of awareness that an election was taking place at all.
What does it mean when democracy is on the ballot, but the people don’t show up?
Apathy or Protest?
In the days leading up to the election, campaign posters blanketed neighborhoods.
Street rallies blared music, promising change, better roads, jobs, and responsive governance.
Yet when it mattered most, the voters stayed home.
This wasn’t just apathy, it was a form of protest.
There is growing distrust between the electorate and the political system, especially at the local government level.
Many Lagosians believe their chairmen are invisible after elections.
“What’s the point?” asked a trader in Ojo who refused to vote.
“They come here, give us rice, beg us to vote, and disappear for four years.”
Her sentiment reflects a larger reality: Nigerians are increasingly disillusioned by the absence of real accountability in local governance.
Despite the constitutional role of LGAs in primary education, waste management, primary healthcare, and local infrastructure, many feel these functions are either abandoned or hijacked by state-level officials.
The local government system has become a shadow of what it was intended to be an appendage of the ruling party’s structure, rather than a platform for grassroots leadership.
The Cost of Disconnection
Low turnout isn’t just a statistic, it’s a signal.
When only a fraction of the population participates in electing their local leaders, those leaders operate without a true mandate.
They govern not by popular will, but by technical legality.
This lack of political legitimacy trickles into governance.
It leads to weak accountability, poor service delivery, and little pressure to perform.
After all, when officials know they weren’t truly elected by the people, they don’t feel truly answerable to them.
More dangerously, it creates a breeding ground for vote-buying, imposition, and manipulation.
When turnout is low, it becomes cheaper and easier to swing elections through inducements or outright coercion.
A handful of votes can decide the fate of an entire community.
This distorts the democratic process and fuels the cycle of poor leadership.
2027: A New Terrain Awaits
If 2025’s LG elections are any indication, the road to 2027 is both foggy and full of potholes.
The general elections will likely see a resurgence of voter interest, but the underlying issues won’t vanish overnight.
The first implication is that political parties can no longer rely on structure alone.
Lagos has long been considered a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress(APC), but that strength is built on a base that’s now showing cracks.
The same electorate that handed APC easy victories in the past is growing restless.
If that restlessness transforms into coordinated action in 2027, the party may find itself fighting battles it once considered won.
The opposition, too, must recalibrate.
Low turnout shows that disillusionment is bipartisan.
It is not enough to wait for voters to reject the ruling party they must also believe in the alternatives.
Right now, many don’t. The task ahead for the Labour Party, PDP, and others is to build not just noise, but trust.
Another key shift lies in voter demographics.
The youth, who dominate Lagos’ population, were conspicuously missing from this election.
This mirrors what was seen in 2023 when, despite massive online engagement, many young Nigerians didn’t show up at the polls.
The reasons are layered: poor voter education, logistical frustrations, skepticism, and disconnection from party politics.
Yet, they represent the biggest swing bloc in 2027.
If mobilized properly, they could determine the next governor and perhaps even alter the national balance.
Building Trust Again
To address these challenges, more than campaign promises will be required. Lagos needs a genuine voter reawakening.
That won’t come through billboards or last-minute rallies.
It will come through real engagement long before the election season.
One step is to reform how local governments function.
When residents can feel the impact of their LG chairmen see roads repaired, clinics stocked, waste cleared they are more likely to care about who holds that office.
Transparency and community involvement are crucial. Citizens must not just be told what government plans they must be part of it.
Another critical area is civic education.
Many Lagosians still believe local government elections are “selection processes,” already decided before ballots are cast.
That perception must be shattered with bold reforms, electoral integrity, and consistent voter outreach.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission(LASIEC) must also evolve—through better logistics, impartial operations, and broader visibility.
Media’s Role in Shaping the Narrative
The press has a role to play too.
Media coverage of local elections is often shallow, focusing on party outcomes rather than community impact.
Yet, these are the offices closest to the people.
More investigative journalism, candidate vetting, issue-based coverage, and grassroots storytelling will give voters better tools to make informed choices.
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