Abdulwahab Abdulah and Dotun Ibiwoye
10 October 2008
Ahead of the Local Government Election tomorrow in Lagos State, the state government has announced a restriction of all movements on the election day throughout the state to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
Meanwhile, the state Chief Judge, Justice Augustine Ade-Alabi yesterday constituted a 10-man Local Government Election Petition Tribunal and a five man appeal panel to try petitions arising from the election, just as All Progressive Grand Alliance's candidates in tomorrow's election are to sign an assessment performance bond.
The restriction order which, according to the Government, "is to ensure that people go out and vote without let or hindrance", will, however, last between the hours of 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. which is the period for the election.
Briefing newsmen at the Government House Marina, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, also expressed the State Government's determination to provide a conducive atmosphere for the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to conduct the election.
Bamidele appealed to Lagosians to see the restriction as the State Government's attempt to provide a congenial atmosphere for the exercise and assured that necessary modalities had been put in place to ensure security of lives and property on the Election Day.
The Commissioner also assured that the Government would work with LASIEC and other security agencies to ensure timely movement of voting material to all designated poll points.
7(4) of the Local Government Election Tribunal Law No 16, 2001.
The Tribunals according to the statement would be sitting in Lagos and Ikeja, judicial divisions
five members led by Justice A.R.A. Sahid will be sitting in the Lagos division of the Tribunal.
Other members of the tribunal for the Lagos Division are Chief Magistrate I.O. Akinkugbe, Chief Magistrate C.T. Adesola-Ikpatt, Mr. Christopher Deji Balogun and Mr. Wasiu Amao.
The Ikeja Division will be led by Justice M.A. Opeagbe, while other members are Justice Opeagbe, Chief Magistrate A.O. Odugbesan, Chief Magistrate O.O. Oshin, Chief Magistrate O.I. Adelaja and Mr. Kafil Dawodu.
In a related development, APGA said there will be an assessment performance bond signed by all APGA candidates contesting tomorrow's elections at the 57 Lagos State local government council and development areas, to serve as a check on an elected candidate when he is elected to office. This is to ensure that there is no misuse of power which will contradict his electioneering campaign.
Lagos State APGA Secretary, Chief Godfrey Lemchi, said in Lagos that "It is clear that the positions are highly competitive but we have areas where we have competitive advantage overs others because APGA is a party that recognizes a lot of people that are being considered as commoners. According to him, "We want a democracy that is people oriented that is why we have made it clear that governance should evolve from the people."
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