To overcome the shortcomings of the lightning attachment procedure optimization (LAPO) algorithm, such as premature convergence and slow convergence speed, an enhanced lightning attachment procedure optimization (ELAPO) algorithm was proposed in this paper. In the downward leader movement, the idea of differential evolution was introduced to speed up population convergence; in the upward leader movement, by superimposing vectors pointing to the average individual, the individual updating mode was modified to change the direction of individual evolution, avoid falling into local optimum, and carry out a more fine local information search; in the performance enhancement stage, opposition-based learning (OBL) was used to replace the worst individuals, improve the convergence rate of population, and increase the global exploration capability. Finally, 16 typical benchmark functions in CEC2005 are used to carry out simulation experiments with LAPO algorithm, four improved algorithms, and ELAPO. Experimental results showed that ELAPO obtained the better convergence velocity and optimization accuracy.