29 September 2008
Lagos — Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Fatai Adeyinka (rtd), last week announced that all measures had been put in place to ensure that the local government council election scheduled for October 11,this year in the Centre of Excellence is hitch- free . Charles Ajunwa examines Adeyinka's optimism against the backdrop of recent developments in the political landscape of Lagos
All eyes are now on Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. And the reason is obvious: the Centre of Excellence is about conducting elections into the constitutionally recognised 20 local government councils and the controversial 37 unrecognised Local Council Development Areas.The poll is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2008.
The council poll as it were, has continued to generate fierce altercations between the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. Aondoakaa has continuosly insisted on election taking place only in the 20 constitutionally recognised local government areas while Fashola on his part, has insisted that election would take place both in the 20 constitutionally recognised councils and the 37 local council development areas.
Apart from the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which took LASIEC to court over its decision to recognise the 37 local council development areas,other political parties in the state appear to be willing to participate in the exercise.
But the Chairman of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Fatai Adeyinka (rtd.) who seems to be unperturbed about the confusion while addressing newsmen last week on the display of voters register at the commission's headquarters, in Yaba, assured that all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure a smooth and successful local council poll in the state.
Adeyinka who categorically said he would not succumb to any "threat from above", declared that preparation for the October 11, 2008 local council election was in top gear and has not suffered any setback.
To this end, Adeyinka said the display of voters register for the forthcoming poll would be displayed for a period of not less than five days and not exceeding 14 days for public scrutiny during which objection or complaint in relation to the names omitted or included in the voters register will be entertained.
The LASIEC boss said another measure taken by the commission included the holding of four stakeholders meetings with the political parties, two meetings with security agencies and the state Commissioner of Police, who he said assured them that necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure peaceful and violence-free election.
Adeyinka said the principal staff of the Commission including electoral officers have undergone training in electoral process meant to keep them abreast with electoral procedures. He acknowledged that the commission has written and received favourable response for the recruitment of Ad-hoc personnel from the State Civil Service Commission, Local Government Commission, Hospital Service Commission and professional bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management and many others to be part of the election exercise.
The retired jurist, also hinted that the commission has embarked on public enlightenment campaign programme to educate the people of the state on the forthcoming election.
On when the results for the election should be expected, the legal guru echoed with all seriousnesss in his face that "all results will be ready 24 hours after the election exercise by God's grace."
Adeyinka who was in high spirit, called the bluff of all the PDP threats against LASIEC especially the case which the party instituted against LASIEC and last Monday's invasion of the commission's office by thugs and armed mobile policement suspected to have been hired by the PDP .He also denied that the commission rejected PDP candidates for screening last Monday.
"We read the PDP allegation that LASIEC rejected their candidates for screening yesterday. LASIEC wish to state that the allegation is baseless, unfounded and spurious as their candidates were not slated for screening yesterday as per the time-table of the commission for validation exercise and they were duly informed yesterday. The PDP came to the commission in large number yesterday with fully armed mobile policemen and thugs apparently to cause mayhem, crisis and confusion to the on-going validation exercise.
"The commission handled the matter with maturity, addressed the PDP crowd and urged them to get their party to give a reply to our letter the copies of which were in fact in possession of the PDP members and they peacefully departed the commission. LASIEC wish to alert the public that the PDP invasion of the commission uninvited with aremed policemen and thugs is a disastrous dimension in the emerging democracy in Nigeria,"he noted.
Adeyinka also faulted the court case instituted against LASIEC PDP on the conduct of the forthcoming local council poll saying the same PDP was among the 33 political parties that collected LASIEC nomination forms for election in the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.
"The PDP has instituted an action in court against LASIEC and other defendants on the issue of 20 Local Government Councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas and while LASIEC has refrained from commenting on the issue in dispute because it is sub-judice, the plaintiff is now harassing the defendant by determining the issue before the court.
"Thirty-one political parties including the PDP collected LASIEC nomination forms while 28 political parties indicated their intention to participate in the 20 local government councils and 37 local council development areas. 25 political parties have so far returned their nomination forms and their list of candidates who were undergoing screening by the validation committee of the commission",Adeyinka noted.
On the request for funds made by some of the political parties,Adeyinka said he has consulted Fashola over the issue who said there was no provision for it in the LASIEC Law 2008. Therefore, the state government cannot release such funds from its coffers for purpose of conducting local government elections.
Analysts believe what LASIEC needs now is support of all the 31 political parties that have indicated interests in participating in the forthcoming local council poll in the state. They also believe that any aggrieved party in the conduct of the election should seek redress in the law court as doing so will help reduce tension that already exists in the state.
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