A civic group, De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation, has filed a legal action at the Lagos State High Court against the Lagos State Government, seeking to halt what it calls the unconstitutional conduct of elections into 57 local council areas by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
The suit, filed in the Lagos Judicial Division, lists the Lagos State Government, Attorney General of Lagos State, Lagos State House of Assembly, and LASIEC as the 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
In its originating summons, the group is urging the court to interpret and enforce constitutional provisions that limit the number of recognized local government areas in Lagos State to 20, as listed in the First Schedule, Part I of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The group argues that the extension of council elections to the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) created by the state contravenes the Constitution and undermines federal supremacy.
Citing several sections of the Constitution—including Sections 1(1), 1(2), 1(3), 3(6), 7(1), and 8(5)—the plaintiffs are seeking a judicial declaration that LASIEC lacks the authority to organize or supervise elections outside the 20 constitutionally approved LGAs.
The legal team, led by Yakubu Eleto Esq and other counsel, described any attempt to conduct elections in the 37 LCDAs as “unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”
They added that the creation and recognition of these additional councils without recourse to the National Assembly violates Section 8(5) of the Constitution.
The foundation is praying the court for: a declaration that only the 20 LGAs listed in the Constitution are valid and recognized.
A declaration that LASIEC cannot lawfully conduct elections in the 37 LCDAs.
An order nullifying any past elections or appointments made in those LCDAs.
A perpetual injunction restraining LASIEC from conducting future elections in the LCDAs.
A mandatory injunction compelling LASIEC to limit its electoral activities strictly to the 20 constitutional LGAs.
The case also challenges guidelines reportedly issued by LASIEC in April 2025 and published in The Nation newspaper, which allegedly relied on the legislative backing of the Lagos State House of Assembly to prepare for elections in all 57 councils.
The plaintiffs argue that such actions amount to a usurpation of the National Assembly’s exclusive constitutional power to alter the number or boundaries of local governments in Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, the court is yet to fix a hearing date for the suit.
Lagos State currently operates 57 local council areas—comprising 20 constitutionally recognized LGAs and 37 LCDAs created by the state government. While
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