As preparations intensify for the upcoming local government elections in Lagos State, a rift is emerging between political parties and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) over the inclusion of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the electoral process.
During a stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday, several political parties expressed strong opposition to conducting elections in the 37 LCDAs, which they argue are not constitutionally recognized, unlike the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The parties threatened to boycott the elections if LASIEC proceeds with the current plan.
The meeting, convened by LASIEC with leaders of 19 registered political parties, aimed to foster collaboration and assure stakeholders of a transparent and credible electoral process. However, tensions flared over perceived neglect by the commission.
Chairperson of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos, Mrs Temilola Akinade, criticized the new LASIEC board for excluding political parties from the planning process. She faulted the commission for issuing election notices and guidelines without engaging critical stakeholders like IPAC.
“Critical questions and issues remain unresolved as regards the appropriate interpretation of the Supreme Court’s pronouncements on LG autonomy and how that will impact the 37 LCDAs established by the state government,” Akinade stated.
Other party representatives echoed similar concerns. Mr Ayinde Olawale of the Action Congress Coalition (ACC) declared his party’s refusal to participate in any election that includes the LCDAs. Mr Dele Oladeji, chairman of the Action Party (AP), urged LASIEC to improve communication with parties and provide legal clarity.
Responding to the criticisms, LASIEC Chairperson Justice Mobolanle Okikiola-Ighile (retd) acknowledged the delay in engaging with IPAC but maintained that the law only mandates consultation before the release of electoral guidelines.
“The commission respects IPAC and political parties a lot. The issue of guidelines is why we called this critical stakeholders meeting to have your inputs,” she said.
Justice Okikiola-Ighile reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to neutrality and transparency. She assured stakeholders that LASIEC is not aligned with any political party and pledged to conduct a fair and inclusive election.
The LASIEC boss reminded political parties to adhere strictly to the electoral timetable. She noted that nomination forms are available at the LASIEC headquarters and announced that female candidates would pay only half the required administrative fees.
A list of validated candidates will be displayed at the LASIEC office after the verification process, she added.
The council elections are scheduled to take place on July 12, with a rerun fixed for July 19, 2025. However, the growing dispute over the LCDAs threatens to overshadow preparations and cast uncertainty over the electoral process.