‘INEC Will Be Wasting Resources Conducting 2019 Election’
The Commissioner for Home Affairs in Lagos State, Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef on Thursday, said that conducting the 2019 gubernatorial election in the 36 states of the federation would result into wasting the country’s resources, saying some political office holders who have performed well could return unopposed.
Abdul-Lateef stressed that rather, the Federal Government could save the country from violence associated with election by conducting a referendum in states, including Lagos, asking the residents if there was any reason for an election.
The commissioner, who made the appeal at an end of year forum organized by the ‘Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko’ Foundation in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to make the yuletide celebration memorable for Lagosians, lamented that over the years, the country has wasted resources conducting needless elections in some parts of the country.
He said: “It is unnecessary to conduct election in the 36 states in 2019. And the reason is that we will be wasting Nigeria’s resources in conducting such polls. Some states do not need to conduct any election, and Lagos is included.
“The reason is that in those states, that there is need for election, the aspirants have started indicating their interest. Also, aspirants for the Presidential election have also started making their stance known to the electorate.
“But for Lagos especially, we are yet to see anyone who has indicated its intention to contest for the governorship position. So conducting election in such state would result to waste of the country’s resources,” he added.
The commissioner argued that in states where the incumbent has cutting edge over others, or where the electorates indicate that the incumbent should continue, the federal Government could as well spare them of the rigors of election days.
“We need to look at states where the incumbent has cutting edge advantages. Any state where the people can come together and decide that their governor should continue in office, such state should be spared of the rigor of going to the poll again.
“The federal government should conduct referendum on whether to conduct election in some states. Conducting in some states would lead to wasting resources.
“If we embark on such act, the governor will be able to work hard because he or she now know that the social contract he signed with the citizen must be respected to the fullest,” he added.
