Lagos Council Poll: AC On Solo Run

Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Adewale Ajayi & Olalekan Olabulo, Lagos - 11.10.2008

It is going to be a solo run for Action Congress (AC) in the council elections holding today in Lagos State as the party is set to win all available slots.

This is sequel to the withdrawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) from the elections.

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), however, said at a press conference on Friday that if any of the candidates presented by either the PDP or the ANPP won the elections they would be declared the winners because the parties ought to have given the body 14 days notice prior to withdrawal, so the withdrawal by the parties was not recognised by the commission.

Although, other parties such as Action Alliance, Peoples Progressive Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance Party and others are fielding candidates for today’s elections, observers believe that the parties that could have been a threat to the ruling party in some areas were the ones that had withdrawn.

Both PDP and ANPP hinged their withdrawal from the elections on “the illegality of holding elections in the local council development areas.”

According to the chairman of LASIEC, Justice Abdul- Fatai Adeyinka, the law guiding the conduct of the poll allows a party to withdraw from the race 14 days before the verification and screening of candidates, “The PDP had an opportunity to withdraw from the race earlier than now; their withdrawal is not tenable in law.

“We received their withdrawal notice on October 8th, dated October 6th. We have replied them, saying that their withdrawal is invalid, having collected nomination forms and returned same. If they were to withdraw it should have come not later than 14 days before the conduct of the election proper. They can not withdraw at this point.”

In another, development, the PDP has reiterated its position that its candidates should not be part of the election, and they must abide by the decision of the National Working Committee of the party that instructed them not to be part of what it described as the illegality that was to take place in .

Addressing the Press, former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, said no member was greater than the party and they should as such abide by the decision of the party not to participate in the election , assuring the candidates that had committed money and time into the process of the party’s compensation.

Speaking further on the preparation for the election, LASIEC chairman said the result of the election would be declared to the public tomorrow, Sunday, October 12.

He explained that there were 293 chairmanship candidates in the race as well as 1,295 councillorship candidates.

Justice Adeyinka said that adequate arrangement were made for security , because about 30,000 policemen as well other security personnel had been arranged to provide security in the 8, 467 polling units during and after the exercise.

He explained further that 27, 000 Ad-hoc staff had also been recruited and trained for the exercise which should take place in the 377 wards in the state between the hours of 8 am to 3. pm.

He explained that voters would be issued with ballot papers openly and after accreditation and thump-nail marked with indelible ink, the voter would be allowed to cast his or her vote by thumb- printing for the party/candidate of choice in secret.

Justice Adeyinka said the voter would later drop his or her ballot paper in the ballot box openly before LASIEC officials and others present.

“We are fully prepared for today’s election. The ballot boxes, ballot papers and other sensitive election materials are ready while our non- sensitive materials are also ready.

“We have complied with the law by displaying the voters register at the wards and the local councils. Thirty- one political parties applied for LASIEC nomination forms while 25 of them returned the nomination forms. The commission has also published the list of validated candidates.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has announced a restriction of all movements between the hours of 8 am to 4 pm today.