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Tag: Kazeem Alimi

  • Bye-election: INEC trains 1,776 corps members

    Bye-election: INEC trains 1,776 corps members

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday it had trained no fewer than 1,776 Corps members for the September 30 bye-election in Eti-Osa Constituency I in Lagos State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly became vacant following the death of Mr Kazeem Alimi, who represented the constituency in the Assembly.

    Alimi died on July 18, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and was buried on July 19, two weeks after his 50th birthday celebration.

    The late lawmaker was until his death, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs.

    Speaking with NAN on preparations for the election, Mr Sam Olumekun, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner said that the commission had trained Polling Officers, mostly Corps members for the Sept. 30 bye-election.

    Olumekun, who assured candidates of a level playing ground, promised to ensure adequate provision of personnel and materials during the exercise.

    According to him, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security had met and assured voters of security of lives and materials during the exercise.

    He said that the commission has also trained enough Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) and provided adequate card readers to ensure credible poll.

    “We have trained all officers for the election and we have enough card readers for the accreditation of voters on the election day.

    “Let all eligible voters in the constituency go out and exercise their civic responsibility by coming out to vote for the candidate of their choice,” he said.

    The INEC boss, who said that there would be no restrictions of human and vehicular movements, assured of adequate security personnel to deal with any breach of law and order.

    Olumekun urged contestants and their supporters to be law-abiding before, during and after the exercise.

    According to him, the affected constituency has six Registration Areas (Wards) and 188 Polling Units.

    The spokesman for INEC in the state, Mr Femi Akinbiyi, had told NAN that nine political parties would be jostling for the seat in the House of Assembly.

    The candidates are: Mr Olawale Okesola (AA); Mr Samson Tampennu (AD); Mr Noheem Babatunde (APC) and Mr Olawale Gbadamosi (BNPP).

    Others are: Mr Olufemi Adebiyi (DA); Mr Oluwaseun Adebayo-Daniel (NNPP); Mr Arubiewe Abogun (PDP); Mr Olorunyomi Odusanya (PPA) and Mr Abiodun Adetayo (UDP).

    NAN reports that the six RAs in the affected constituency include Victoria Island II, Ilasan Housing Estate/ Moriyegun 5 and Lekki/Ikate.

    Others are Ilado/Eti-Osa, Aja/Sangotedo and Ado/Langbasa/Badore.

  • Nine candidates jostle for vacant Lagos Assembly seat

    Nine candidates jostle for vacant Lagos Assembly seat

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that nine candidates will contest for the vacant Eti-Osa Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly bye-election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant following the death of Mr Kazeem Alimi who represented the constituency in the Assembly.

    Alimi died on July 18 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital during an illness, and was buried on July 19, two weeks after his 50th birthday celebration.

    The lawmaker, who represented Eti-Osa Constituency I, was until his demise, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs.

    The spokesman for INEC in Lagos State, Mr Femi Akinbiyi, told NAN on Friday that nine political parties would be jostling for the seat in the bye-election slated for Sept. 30.

    Akinbiyi noted that the constituency had only six registration areas (Wards), saying that the name of the candidates had been published at the INEC office in the constituency.

    “Nine candidates will be vying for the position, and their names have been published at our office in the area.

    On preparations for the poll, Akinbiyi said: “As part of our preparations, the commission has concluded training of supervisory presiding officers who will in turn train other ad-hoc staff.

    “The training of ad-hoc staff will hold from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23 to deliver the commission’s mandate,” he said.

    According to him, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security has met and given assurance of security during the poll.

    Akinbiyi said that the commission had received most of the non-sensitive materials for the election.

    He said that INEC would ensure free, fair and credible poll.

    According to him, the new Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Sam Olumekun, has urged eligible voters to come out en mass to vote for the candidate of their choice.

    “We don’t want apathy; every eligible voter should participate. All issues pertaining to security has been taken care of, and we promise a level playing ground for all contestants.

    “We want everyone to play according to the rules. I expect a non-violent bye-election, ” Akinbiyi quoted REC as saying.

    NAN reports that the six registration areas in the affected constituency include Victoria Island II, Ilasan Housing Estate/Moriyegun 5 and Lekki/Ikate.

    The others are Ilado/Eti-Osa, Aja/Sangotedo and Ado/Langbasa/Badore.

  • Lagos bye-election: We are stepping up campaigns – AD

    Lagos bye-election: We are stepping up campaigns – AD

    The Alliance for Democracy ( AD ) said on Sunday that it was stepping up preparations for the Sept. 30 Lagos State House of Assembly bye-election for the Eti-Osa State Constituency.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC had scheduled the bye-election to fill the vacant seat in the house following the death of Mr Kazeem Alimi on July 18.

    Mr Kola Ajayi, the State AD Chairman, told NAN in Lagos that following the emergence of Mr Sofe Samson as the party’s candidate for the poll in a recent primary, the party would soon begin its campaign for an “impressive showing” in the bye-election.

    AD, formed in 1998 by the late Sen. Abraham Adesanya, ex-Lagos State Gov. Bola Tinubu, now National Leader of the ruling APC and others, was until 2003, a vibrant opposition party in Nigeria under the President Olusegun Obasanjo-led government.

    Following a leadership tussle between Sen. Mojisola Akinfenwa and Chief Bisi Akande, erstwhile Osun governor, the Akande faction merged with other opposition parties to form the Action Congress of Nigeria and subsequently, the All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

    Ajayi said:“We have conducted our primary during which Mr Sofe Samson emerged by consensus.

    “His name has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as our flag bearer.

    “We have perfected plans for the election and campaign will soon begin and we are sure of doing well.”

    According to Ajayi, AD is a popular party in the state with a carefully designed programmes to meet the yearnings of the people.

    On calls for the country’s restructuring, the party chairman said: “It is time for the Federal Government to act.”

    He said the current structure of the country needed to be tinkered with to “fortify the country and help it meet its aspirations.”

  • INEC approves Sept. 30 for Eti-Osa bye-election

    INEC approves Sept. 30 for Eti-Osa bye-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday said the bye-election to fill the vacant Eti-Osa Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly would be held on Sept. 30.

    Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC’s new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, announced the date at a stakeholders meeting attended by party leaders at the Lagos headquarters of the commission.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bye-election is coming up following the July 18 death of  Mr Kazeem Alimi of the All Progressives Congress, who occupied the seat.

    He succumbed to a brief illness at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, two weeks after celebrating his 50th birthday.

    Dr Mudashiru Mustapha, INEC Administrative Secretary in Lagos State, had on Aug. 11 said Sept. 16 was being considered for the election.

    He had, however, said it was tentative had yet to be approved by the national headquarters of INEC.

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), after Mustapha’s disclosure, urged the electoral body to shift the proposed date for the bye-election by two weeks.

    The group appealed to INEC to consider Sept 30, stressing that they just finished a local government election in the state.

    They said this would give the parties more time to be able to sensitise and mobilise their people ahead of the election.

    Olumekun, the new Lagos REC, told the stakeholders at his maiden meeting with them that Sept. 30 had been approved by the INEC national headquarters after considering the recommendations by party leaders.

    “This meeting is an opportunity for me formally introduce myself to stakeholders in the state and discuss the modalities for the forthcoming Eti-Osa I bye-election that has been slated for Sept 30.

    “Time table has been drawn and we have given them out to the parties. The commission will monitor these activities.

    “INEC is taking the management of elections to higher level. Since 2011, we have progressively improved on our performance.

    “We have designed new tools which we are going to work with to conduct a very fair, credible, peaceful and conclusive election,” he said.

    Olumekun urged political parties to conduct their activities peacefully and partner with the commission in the areas of voter registration and education.

    “Voters’ education is very key to the growth of democracy and INEC alone cannot educate and mobilise the citizens to perform their civic responsibilities.

    “We have about 1.4 million Permanent Voter Cards that are yet to be collected. We are appealing to political parties to help mobilise and encourage the people in this regard, and be part of the voter registration,” Olumekun said.

    Reading out the timetable for the forthcoming bye-election, Mr Oladosu Balogun, Head of Department, Electoral Operations, INEC-Lagos, said the conduct of primaries by political parties was from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5.

    “Forms should be collected from Abuja and the last day for submission of Forms CF001, CF002 and nomination form at INEC headquarters in Abuja is Sept. 7, while the last day for the publication of list of nominated candidates will be Sept. 14.

    “Sept. 23 is for the submission of names and addresses of party agents to electoral officers. Campaigns have started and the last day for campaigns is on Sept.28. Election will then take place on Sept. 30,” Balogun said.

    Reacting, Mr Charles Odugbesi, a representative of the Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggested that the collection and submission of forms should be done in Lagos and not Abuja to save cost and time.

    Also Mr Shola Omolola, Lagos State Chairman, Action Alliance (AA) said that the timing for the primaries was short and appealed for an extension of the date to allow political parties conduct their primaries adequately.

    Mr Kola Ajayi, State Chairman, IPAC, urged the commission to make the form available online.

  • Lagos Assembly member dies

    Lagos Assembly member dies

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday announced the death of one of its members, Mr Kazeem Alimi (APC-Eti Osa I).

    The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr Tunde Braimoh, made the announcement in a statement in Lagos.

    Alimi, a second term member of the assembly, died at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital  on Tuesday at the age of 50.

    He was the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs.

    His death came two weeks after he celebrated his 50th birthday.

    “With heavy hearts , grief and a deep sense of loss; the , Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, principal  officers , honourable members , management and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly  announce the passing of an illustrious , astute and distinguished member of the Lagos State House of Assembly; Mr Kazeem Alimi.

    “Alimi passed on in the afternoon of  Tuesday, July 18, after an intense battle to regain his health which suddenly took a bad turn  immediately after the celebration of his 50th birthday,” Braimoh said,

    He said the deceased did not show any sign of ill health during his birthday celebration, which was his last major public appearance.

    “As a matter of fact, he (Alimi) was a perfect host as he remained his suave, amiable and debonair self personally attending to guests and giving them his all throughout the event.

    “The ceremony was well attended by almost all honourable members of the house, notable political leaders from his constituency, Islamic clerics , families and friends.

    “Several odes were sang at the event in honour of the Honourable who turned 50. Alas !! Those odes are now dirges.

    “Until his demise, Alimi, a man with a cool, good and fine mien, was the Chairman , House Committee on Local Government Administration.

    “Alimi, a veritable and venerated Honourable member,  was a role model to many. His public and private conducts were instructive and exemplary.

    “Even in the shock and devastation of his unexpected departure , we find solace in the fact that his life was an illustration of courage , determination and greatness.

    “We are also consoled in the fact that he led a good life and he was well loved and reverted  by his colleagues and others till the very end,” Braimoh added.

    He prayed God to grant succour to Alimi’s family, especially his  wife and children, and afford them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Alimi hailed from Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State and attended Moba Primary School and Government College, Maroko.

    He attended Lagos State University where he obtained a B.Sc  in Economics before he began a career as an officer in the Accounts Department of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    Alimi later transferred his service to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service where he served from 2001 to 2010.

    He became a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2011 and was re-elected  in 2015.

  • Godfatherism, strength of Nigeria’s democracy, says lawmakers

    Godfatherism, strength of Nigeria’s democracy, says lawmakers

    Against the backdrop of the negative influence of godfathers in Nigerian politics, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Kazeem Alimi, has described it as a phenomenon that has strengthened democracy in the state.

    Alimi made this observation during the weekly programme organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents tagged ‘Time out with the Press’ at the Assembly Complex in Ikeja.

    Voicing his support for the practice, he said. “As far as African context is concerned, there is no way godfatherism can be completely eradicated. Godfatherism has its own advantage; Lagos State for instance, is politically stable because of the fact that we believe in our leaders.”

    Sharing his personal experience, Alimi recalled how he was asked to step down in 2003 by the leadership of his party despite enjoying popular support, adding that the leaders also ensured his return to the House in 2011.

    While answering question on the secret behind the unity prevalent among Lagos lawmakers, Alimi stated that “the issue behind our success is also the effect of godfatherism. If there is any crisis, the leaders of the party would come in and resolve it since we believe in them.”

     

    In a situation where there is nobody to intervene, the crisis will escalate.”

    The lawmaker added that another factor responsible for the unity in the House is the stabilising factor being played by experienced members who have spent close to 15 years as lawmakers.