Confusion in Lagos over LG polls

Sulaimon Olanrewaju and Saka Gbeminiyi, Lagos - 24.03.2008

THERE is confusion in Lagos State over the local government election as the government is divided on whether to conduct the election in 20 or 57 local government areas. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has, however, vowed to resist holding election in 57 councils as it said only 20 were recognised by the Nigerian constitution.

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIECO) has also said that no decision had been taken on whether to conduct elections in 20 or 57 councils.

The state government is worried that it may incur the wrath of the Federal Government which may lead to the seizure of the state’s allocation from the federation account if elections are held in 57 councils.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that some powerful people in the government want the elections conducted in 57 councils, saying that would take care of all interests. The dilemma, Nigerian Tribune gathered, was partly responsible for the delay in fixing a date for the local government elections despite pressure from political parties.

All attempts to get the views of the state’s attorney general proved abortive as calls were not picked. However, the PDP in the state has said that it will do all in its powers to stop any attempt to conduct election into 57 councils as only 20 are recognised by the nation’s laws.

Mr. Secongi Koshoedo, the party’s state chairman, in a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune at the weekend, said “we will resist elections into 57 councils because 57 councils do not exist in Lagos State. We go by what the constitution has given us. According to the constitution, there are only 20 local government councils in Lagos State.

“We are aware that the process of having 57 councils has started but it has not been concluded. The state governor is a lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria at that and we know that he will not go against the rule of law. If, however, the government insists on having the election in 57 councils, we will take necessary action by going to court.”

According to Mr. Raheem Ajao, Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIECO), no decision had been taken yet on whether elections would be conducted in 20 or 57 councils.

“No date has been fixed yet for the elections and no decision has been taken on the number of local government councils in which the elections will be conducted,” Ajao said during a telephone interview.

“We are still waiting for the enactment of the state’s electoral law. The former electoral law is obsolete and we are waiting for the new one,” he said. “The bill has passed through the first and second reading stages at the House of Assembly but we cannot do anything yet until it is passed.”