By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
As protests continued to trail October 22, 2011 council polls in Lagos, Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state will today preside at the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected chairmen of the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, a signpost for the formal take off of administration at the grassroots.

However, the chairman of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, Justice Abdul-Fatai Adeyinka (rtd) at the commission’s secretariat in Yaba, issued certificates of return to the newly elected 57 Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN chairmen, vice chairmen and 376 councillors that won in the last Saturday council elections.

Fashola who will conduct the swearing-in at the Blue roof of LTV ground Agidingbi, Ikeja, will have in attendance chieftains of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and members of the state executive council. He had earlier directed that in order to have a hitch free swearing-in, the movement of persons and vehicles should not be restricted as it coincides with the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the state.

Adeyinka, at the presentation of certificates of return to the newly elected officers said that LASIEC had been transparent in all her duties by carrying along all stakeholders’ in her activities and events that took place throughout the preparation for the state council polls.

The LASIEC boss who had earlier challenged those dissatisfied with the outcome of the elections to seek redress in election tribunal already set up for the purpose, said: “We do not say that we are perfect , but to the very best of our ability, we provided a level-playing field for all and sundry.