By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Lagos—All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter has declared that eligibility of aspirants for the forthcoming much anticipated election into the 20 Local Government Areas, LGAs and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, of the state would be determined by the guidelines of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC.

The Secretary, APC in Lagos, Mr. Hakeem Bamgbala, who stated this in an interview with our correspondent, however, assured aspirants on the platform of the party that the final choice for candidates would not be based on “Godfatherism, favouritism or selection” but on stipulated guidelines and laws of the electoral umpire and the party.

The secretary, while declaring the preparedness of the party for the council poll  slated for April this year, expressed confidence that APC would win all the available slots as the party ”has put its house in order following the slight upset witnessed at the last general polls in the state, coupled with the excellent performance of the present administration led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to the grassroots.”

According to the former Ikate-Itire, LCDA Chairman, “Everybody has been eagerly looking forward to the election date as preparation for the election has commenced. The guidelines of LASIEC would guide the party on the eligibility of aspirants who will contest for the post of Chairman or Councillor at the poll.

“We are only waiting for the release of guidelines by LASIEC, before we set the ball rolling.”

Bangbala said to show the strength and acknowledgement of APC’s popularity, some prominent Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have notified the party secretariat of their intention to cross over to APC, “and very soon the party leaders in the state will unveil the personalities to the public at an open event.”

He therefore, urged the aspirants to gear up for the race, which would soon commence any moment from now and ensure they play according to rules and avoid unnecessary criticism of the party leadership.

It will be recalled that LASIEC Amendment Law and the Election Tribunal Law had been cleared and passed by the Assembly, and subsequently, assented to by Governor, Ambode, the council election is set to hold soon.

The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, recently, declared that plans had reached advanced stage to hold the elections without further delay.

Obasa, said the Assembly was waiting on Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the release of voters’ register, delineation of constituency of wards before the election can hold saying, “Without all these exercise completed there is no way we can hold the polls.”