…as commission sensitises stakeholders, public

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (retd.), has explained the commission’s absence from the Labour Party’s (LP) primaries ahead of the July 12 Local Government polls in the state.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ forum held in Ikeja on Thursday, themed “Enhancing a Credible and Inclusive Local Government Elections in Lagos,” Okikiolu-Ighile cited the existence of three rival factions within the Labour Party in Lagos, each claiming legitimacy and inviting LASIEC to observe their respective primaries.

She stated that the commission had not received necessary guidance from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on which of the factions to recognise.

“We just go there to observe the primaries. We were at ACME last week Saturday during the chairmanship primaries, and all our electoral officers were in different wards,” she explained.

“Today (Thursday), Labour Party invited us, but unfortunately, due to the factions, we could not attend. On our records, we have three different names from different factions, and because of that, we had to forward a letter to INEC for counsel.

“So, without that, we are not attending. We have intimated every faction of the Labour Party in question about our stance, and I am sure they will resolve it.”

Okikiolu-Ighile added that other parties had also extended invitations to LASIEC for their primaries, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which are scheduled for Saturday.

Commenting on the administrative fees for contestants, the LASIEC boss noted that the commission had been considerate by setting the fees at ₦150,000 for the chairmanship position, ₦75,000 for vice-chairmanship, and ₦50,000 for councillors. She added that exemptions were granted for women, youths, and People Living with Disabilities (PWDs).

The well-attended forum, aimed at addressing voter apathy and election-related violence, saw the participation of stakeholders, traditional rulers, and market leaders. They collectively agreed that collaborative efforts are necessary to tackle the challenges often plaguing the election process.

The guest lecturer, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, a former Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, highlighted the importance of credible elections and inclusivity for a smooth process.

Adeyemi also called for a more efficient LASIEC, saying, “LASIEC must be autonomous; there should be no interference. There must be continuous sensitization and education of the voting public, provision of adequate security to ensure the process is seamless, and information technology must be improved and well integrated.”

He described LASIEC’s role as critical to grassroots development and urged the commission to prioritize transparency and community engagement to build trust in the electoral process.