Lagos LG Polls To Hold In June- LASIEC Boss
Indications have emerged that the much awaited local government polls in Lagos State is likely to be conducted in June this year.
The Chairman of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, (LASIEC), Justice Ayotunde Philips dropped the hint yesterday at a stakeholders’ forum, organized by the commission to sensitize public on the forthcoming council poll, held at Alausa, Ikeja , Lagos.
Philips who allayed the fears of various political parties that will be participating in the council elections assured the parties of impartiality, saying her integrity is at stake.
The LASIEC boss said, “The council poll will be held in the second quarter of June this year. Though, the actual date has not been decided, we will issue the actual date to the public in due course.
“I want to allay the fears and erase the wrong perception of some of you about its being partisan particularly from members of the opposition parties in the state. We would therefore, wish here to place on record our avowed commitment towards ensuring that there is a level playing field for each and every participant and stakeholder in the forthcoming local government elections irrespective of the political divide and affiliations.
“The commission shall strictly adhere to best practices in election management and will perform below the benchmark for excellence in electoral administration.
“Hence, the main reason for the commission’s painstaking thoroughness in the preparation for the forthcoming council poll. This is a new commission I am heading. I want to promise you all that my reputation is at stake. I will guide my work conscientiously not to jeopardize my reputation. I will do all parties right.
Philips assured the stakeholders that the laws guiding the elections would be available for interested individual and parties within the next two weeks, noting that the political class also has a role to play in ensuring peaceful, orderly, and successful conduct of the elections.
“I am of the strong conviction that the way political parties and their members conduct their affairs directly impact on the conduct of elections, positively or negatively.
It will be recalled that National Conscience Party of Nigeria (NCP) in a fresh move has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to withhold further allocation of funds to Lagos State from the federation accounts due to its failure to conduct elections into local government areas.
Following an earlier suit filed by the party, a Lagos State High Court had, in 2015, declared the caretaker committee’s administration of local governments in the state null and void and ordered that elections be conducted within 90 days.
Not amused by the development, the state government, subsequently, appealed the judgment and is yet to conduct the court-ordered election till date.
In a fresh suit, marked FHC/L/CS/198/2017, the NCP is seeking for a declaration that only elected officers are entitled to run the affairs of all local governments in the state.
The suit, which was filed on behalf of the party by human right lawyer and activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, want a declaration that the state is not entitled to benefit from the federation account since it has refused to conduct local government elections.
The Chairman of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, (LASIEC), Justice Ayotunde Philips dropped the hint yesterday at a stakeholders’ forum, organized by the commission to sensitize public on the forthcoming council poll, held at Alausa, Ikeja , Lagos.
Philips who allayed the fears of various political parties that will be participating in the council elections assured the parties of impartiality, saying her integrity is at stake.
The LASIEC boss said, “The council poll will be held in the second quarter of June this year. Though, the actual date has not been decided, we will issue the actual date to the public in due course.
“I want to allay the fears and erase the wrong perception of some of you about its being partisan particularly from members of the opposition parties in the state. We would therefore, wish here to place on record our avowed commitment towards ensuring that there is a level playing field for each and every participant and stakeholder in the forthcoming local government elections irrespective of the political divide and affiliations.
“The commission shall strictly adhere to best practices in election management and will perform below the benchmark for excellence in electoral administration.
“Hence, the main reason for the commission’s painstaking thoroughness in the preparation for the forthcoming council poll. This is a new commission I am heading. I want to promise you all that my reputation is at stake. I will guide my work conscientiously not to jeopardize my reputation. I will do all parties right.
Philips assured the stakeholders that the laws guiding the elections would be available for interested individual and parties within the next two weeks, noting that the political class also has a role to play in ensuring peaceful, orderly, and successful conduct of the elections.
“I am of the strong conviction that the way political parties and their members conduct their affairs directly impact on the conduct of elections, positively or negatively.
It will be recalled that National Conscience Party of Nigeria (NCP) in a fresh move has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to withhold further allocation of funds to Lagos State from the federation accounts due to its failure to conduct elections into local government areas.
Following an earlier suit filed by the party, a Lagos State High Court had, in 2015, declared the caretaker committee’s administration of local governments in the state null and void and ordered that elections be conducted within 90 days.
Not amused by the development, the state government, subsequently, appealed the judgment and is yet to conduct the court-ordered election till date.
In a fresh suit, marked FHC/L/CS/198/2017, the NCP is seeking for a declaration that only elected officers are entitled to run the affairs of all local governments in the state.
The suit, which was filed on behalf of the party by human right lawyer and activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, want a declaration that the state is not entitled to benefit from the federation account since it has refused to conduct local government elections.
