The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has expressed concern over
the tension building around the elections for the Local governments and the Local
Council Development Authorities (LCDAs) in Lagos State, this Saturday, reports ITRealms.
The TMG, through its Chairperson,
TMG – Abuja, AbiolaAkiyode – Afolabi and South West Coordinator, TMG, Lagos, SulaimonArigbagbu, told ITRealms they were particularly
worried about the incessant violence in some areas of Lagos, especially
in Mushin due to issues surrounding the nomination of candidates and the
tension building up in some quarters due to undemocratic activities of some of
the major political parties in the run up to the election and the impact
of such tension for the coming elections.
“We are also concerned about the speed with which the Lagos State
House of Assembly passed an amendment to the Lagos Electoral Law regulating the
conduct of election to allow for the substitution of a party candidate before the elections,” TMG
lamented.
The new bill, they noted, allows a political party to withdraw and
substitute candidate not later than three (3) days to LASIEC verification. Just
as it also statesd that any candidate could withdraw from contesting not later
than three (3) days to the election by personally taking a letter of withdrawal
to the State Secretary of the party involved who must also personally take same
to LASIEC not later than 12noon, three (3) days to the election.
TMG is worried about the implications and dangers such amendment
portends on the credibility of the Saturday, 22nd Lagos State Local Government Area (LGA) Council elections as
scheduled by LAISEC. Conduct of credible, free, fair and legitimate elections
cannot be achieved in this kind of arrangement with an amendment taken place
just three days to election.
Furthermore, we are also apprehensive of the implications of the
multiplicity of court cases relating to party candidatures giving the fact that
the election is just three days away. Such conflicting decisions could cast
aspersion on the credibility and legitimacy of the elections.
“We also express displeasure over the latest pronouncement by the
authorities of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LAISEC)
regarding its planned accreditation plan and observer's deployment for the Saturday Local Government Election in Lagos State,” TMG said.
Our concern is further heightened by the refusal by LASIEC to
deploy Card Reader for the conduct of this coming elections. This is an
anti-climax to the widely acknowledged improvement to our Electoral System
during the 2015 General Elections.
As a flagship organization on election and governance
monitoring in Nigeria, TMG is seriously concerned about plethora of allegations
trailing the preparations for the election and the lopsided observer’s
deployment plan adopted by LAISEC. TMG urges the commission to reconsider its
decision on these issues.
TMG further called on LASIEC to ensure highest standard in the
conduct and administration of the coming Lagos LG/LCDAs elections, by carrying
out their responsibilities in accordance with law, and without fear or
favour.
“We hope that LASIEC is committed to an open, genuine, free and
appropriate process that is devoid of any suspicion misgiving in the process
leading to the election,” they urged.
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