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Tag: LASIEC

  • LASIEC unveils candidates for poll

    LASIEC unveils candidates for poll

    •Politicians storm commission’s office

    Politicians yesterday besieged the Yaba head office of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to view the list of candidates for the July 22 council poll.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 100 politicians, some of them candidates, were seen at the office.

    The list contained the names of no fewer than 1,300 chairmanship and councillorship candidates of various parties.

    No fewer than 20 candidates of different parties had their candidacy invalidated for not meeting eligibility criteria.

    Some others have the validation of their candidacy pending as they were asked to present either their tax clearance certificate, Curriculum Vitae or both for clearance.

    LASIEC Chairman, Retired Justice Ayotunde Phillips, had told newsmen on June 30 that parties could still present substitutes for those invalidated, who would make the final list after meeting eligibility criteria.

    The names of all the candidates for Odi-Olowo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) were conspicuously missing on the list.

    Last Friday, an Ikeja High Court nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in the area and ordered a fresh one.

    Also, all the candidates of the National Conscience Party (NCP) were missing on the list.

    The chairman of NCP in the state, Fatai Ibu-Owo had told NAN that the party’s candidates were shut out of the process, and were not given forms as they were challenging the payment of administrative fees imposed by LASIEC.

    He said the party was in court with LASIEC over the fees, but the case had yet to be heard.

    However, the name of Aina Michael, (Aka Aina Gold) a Nollywood actor in the Yoruba genre, was validated as Alliance for Democracy (AD) Chairmanship candidate in Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA.

    Augustine Arogundade was validated as Chairmanship candidate of the APC in the area.

    Also, Mr Kamal Bashua was validated as APC candidate for Lagos Island East LCDA while Yisa Oladimeji (PDP) and Tijani Olusi (APC) were validated for Lagos Island LGA.

    Asked to comment on the list and other issues arising from it, the commission’s Director of Publicity, Mr Oladapo Olatunde, said a statement would be issued to cover all the questions.

    He said the commission was an impartial umpire in the process and would treat all parties equally.

    LASIEC has fixed the council poll for July 22, and run-off for July 29.

    The poll is to elect chairmen and councillors in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 LCDAs in the state.

     

  • LASIEC boss warns electoral officers

    Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Chairman, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd) has warned electoral officers in all the councils not to be biased in their duty.

    They should not manipulate the electoral process to favour any party or candidate, he said.

    As public servants, Justice Phillips said, they should not allow anybody to lure them into actions that could truncate their career.

    Addressing the officers at LASIEC Yaba office, she said, the commission would pay all their allowances and would not deprive anybody of his/her legitimate entitlements, but would not spare those found wanting.

    She urged them to beware of politicians that would want to induce them.

    LASIEC, she said, has the responsibility of dictating the pace and showing others the right way of conducting elections, noting that “the only way to do this is to exhibit the fear of God and do what is right”.

  • LASIEC to announce council poll results at collation centres

    LASIEC to announce council poll results at collation centres

    •Candidates’ screening ends Friday

    The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) will announce results of the July 22 local government election at the collation centres, its Chairman, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd) has said.

    Justice Phillips told reporters at the weekend that the commission would follow the law on the announcement of results.

    She advised political parties to abide by the LASIEC’s rules on submission of candidates’ list, or face the music.

    “Rules are set to smoothen the process. Laws are to be obeyed. Any party that runs foul of our law would be sanctioned. The commission under my watch believes in the rule of law and due process and will not under any guise interfere in the internal affairs of parties,” she said.

    Justice Phillips said there would be adequate security at every polling unit to ensure peace.

    “I urge all eligible voters to participate in the election. It is when they participate that they can elect the right leaders,” she said.

    The LASIEC chief said only those whose names appeared on the list with commission would be allowed to vote.

    The commission, she said, had begun the screening of candidates, adding that the exercise will end on Friday.

    Phillips said the list of those qualified and those disqualified would be displayed on July 14.

    Parties, she said, could still substitute disqualified candidates after the display of the list.

  • LASIEC partners IPAC to end political violence

    Worried by the violence arising from the conduct of party primaries ahead the July 22, council polls, the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd), has appealed to the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to assist the commission to end the violence.

    She made the appeal during a meeting held by the commission with members of the executive of IPAC at the Commission’s Yaba, Lagos office.

    The LASIEC chief said the violence was capable of negatively impacting on the elections if the situation was not quickly checked, adding that a LASIEC official was injured during one of the fracas.

    She promised to beef up security at its headquarters to prevent political thugs from invading it.

    The commission, she said, could not interfere in the conduct of primaries of political parties because the law does not empower it to do so.

    IPAC Chairman Mr. Kola Ajayi blamed the violence on lack of internal democracy among the political parties, pointing out the police had an important role to play in checking the incidents of violence.

    Ajayi said the body was planning a rally to campaign against political violence.

  • LP decries LASIEC guidelines

    LP decries LASIEC guidelines

    The Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of Labour Party (LP), Pastor Biodun Popoola, has faulted the guidelines of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) on the council election scheduled to hold on July 22, saying it will infringe the democratic rights of the people.

    At a conference in Lagos, Popoola explained that the guidelines would disenfranchise Nigerians who were desirous of serving the people, because the conditions stipulated by the umpire were unfair.

    He said many political parties have been boxed to a corner and may not not field candidates for the election, because of the stringent guidelines. The LP Chairman said LASIEC was doing the bidding of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “The guidelines release by LASIEC on April 7 for the forthcoming local government elections, by Justice Ayotunde Phillips, which spelt out the administrative charges to be paid by political parties on behalf of their candidates, is to limit participation of other political parties.

    “It is in furtherance of their premeditated caveat to disenfranchise the poor by instructing that candidates must attach tax clearance certificates for three years among other requirements.”

    Popoola said that the decision of the commission not to use Card Reader machine for the conduct of the council election, because the law setting the commission had no provision for the use of the machine, is to conduct a dubious election.

    He added: “This is totally at variance with democratic process; it is atrocious, intolerable, condemnable and unacceptable. The Lagos State Labour Party has gone to court to seek relief on the outright cancellation of the primitive, impervious administrative fees slammed by LASIEC.”

    The party chieftain said the party would participate in the election, adding that it would continue to struggle against the annihilation of the people’s fundamental political rights. He added: “We have therefore embarked on state-wide consultations in the last few weeks, to solicit for support in the 57 councils in order to thwart the ploy to keep Lagos State under one party perpetually.”

    He maintained that the LP had all it takes to win the council polls in the areas that it would field candidates.

    Popoola called on LASIEC to play by the rule of the game, noting that the composition its board was already making most of the political parties uncomfortable.

    He said: “Some card-carrying members of the APC are on the board of LASIEC. Some of them had contested elections in the past, for the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly.

    “They are now serving in the board as umpires to supervise the election in which their party will participate. There is no way they would discharge their duty without discrimination or bias.”

  • LASIEC to spend N2b on poll

    LASIEC to spend N2b on poll

    Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) will spend N2billion on July 22 on local government election, its chairman, Justice Ayotunde Philips (rtd.) said yesterday.

    Justice Philips spoke when she visited Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja to fine-tune security arrangements for the poll.

    The government, she said, was committed to a free, fair and peaceful election, adding that nothing would be left to chance.

    Justice Philips, who said the commission’s security concerns had been discussed with Owoseni, stated that she was optimistic electoral officials and voters would be protected during the exercise.

    She warned residents against patronising fake Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) printers, noting that anyone caught with it would be prosecuted.

    The chairman said: “This visit is timely because the CP had met with the chairmen and secretaries of all the political parties. We have been told some of the concerns they raised and we would go back to the commission to discuss them.

    “LASIEC is committed to a free, fair and rancour free election. At the moment, we do not know how many political parties are contesting because they were yet to submit their nomination forms. But I can tell you the number would be between 0 and 40 because there are 40 registered political parties in the country.

    “We want police to ensure safety of voters and officials during the exercise. We have been working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to

    ensure that people receive their PVCs. We have engaged in some enlightenment campaigns, urging our people to go to local government or independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices to pick up his or her PVCs. No one would be allowed to vote without their PVC and residents should avoid patronising merchants of fake voter’s cards.

    “We are also working with INEC to ensure that cases of multiple voting are not allowed. Anyone caught with fake or cloned PVC would be prosecuted for fraud. N2 billion was earmarked for the election.”

    Owoseni promised that security agencies would ensure free and fair election.

    Speaking on the crisis that erupted at the All Progressives Party (APC) mock screening at Surulere Ward 1E, he said the party leadership has denied endorsing the exercise.

    He said: “At the meeting I had with representatives of all the parties on Tuesday, an APC leader who was there commented on the incident. He said the party leadership was not in support of the mock screening and that the idea was alien to them.

    “That crisis was one of the reasons we met with party leaders. Police record shows that one person was killed. Investigation is still ongoing. We would ensure whoever was involved is apprehended.”

  • LASIEC to spend N2b on poll

    Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) will spend N2billion on July 22 on local government election, its chairman, Justice Ayotunde Philips (rtd.) said yesterday.

    Justice Philips spoke when she visited Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja to fine-tune security arrangements for the poll.

    The government, she said, was committed to a free, fair and peaceful election, adding that nothing would be left to chance.

    Justice Philips, who said the commission’s security concerns had been discussed with Owoseni, stated that she was optimistic electoral officials and voters would be protected during the exercise.

    She warned residents against patronising fake Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) printers, noting that anyone caught with it would be prosecuted.

    The chairman said: “This visit is timely because the CP had met with the chairmen and secretaries of all the political parties. We have been told some of the concerns they raised and we would go back to the commission to discuss them.

    “LASIEC is committed to a free, fair and rancour free election. At the moment, we do not know how many political parties are contesting because they were yet to submit their nomination forms. But I can tell you the number would be between 0 and 40 because there are 40 registered political parties in the country.

    “We want police to ensure safety of voters and officials during the exercise. We have been working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to

    ensure that people receive their PVCs. We have engaged in some enlightenment campaigns, urging our people to go to local government or independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices to pick up his or her PVCs. No one would be allowed to vote without their PVC and residents should avoid patronising merchants of fake voter’s cards.

    “We are also working with INEC to ensure that cases of multiple voting are not allowed. Anyone caught with fake or cloned PVC would be prosecuted for fraud. N2 billion was earmarked for the election.”

    Owoseni promised that security agencies would ensure free and fair election.

    Speaking on the crisis that erupted at the All Progressives Party (APC) mock screening at Surulere Ward 1E, he said the party leadership has denied endorsing the exercise.

    He said: “At the meeting I had with representatives of all the parties on Tuesday, an APC leader who was there commented on the incident. He said the party leadership was not in support of the mock screening and that the idea was alien to them.

    “That crisis was one of the reasons we met with party leaders. Police record shows that one person was killed. Investigation is still ongoing. We would ensure whoever was involved is apprehended.”

  • LASIEC dumps card reader for council polls

    Lagosians would not face the challenges of card reading machine during the July 22 council elections as the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has dumped the machine for manual voting.

    LASIEC Chairman Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd) said this in a statement signed by the commission’s Head, Public Affairs, Oladapo Olatunde.

    Phillips said the law setting up the commission had no provision for the use of the card reader machine for the conduct of its elections.

    The former Chief Judge of Lagos, however, promised that the commission would  amend its law after the July 22 election to accommodate the use of electronic machines in future elections.

    The commission has amended the notice of election it earlier issued on April 7 on the conduct of elections into the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    With the amendment, conduct of party primaries by political parties for aspirants for the Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship, Councillorship seats of the LGs/LCDAs is now expected to commence today and end on May 25.

    The decision to extend the period for the conduct of party primaries by one week, the commission said, was in response to an appeal made by leaders of political parties in the state during a meeting organised by the Commission.

    During the meeting attended by state chairmen and secretaries of political parties, the parties had requested the commission to give them more time for the conduct of their primaries, a request the commission promised to consider.

    The commission has also released the guidelines for the conduct of the elections.

    The guidelines which were presented to the party leaders by Justice Phillips, spelt out the types of forms: LASIEC 001, LASIEC 002 and LASIEC 008 which political parties are expected to obtain for their candidates from the commission between April 18 and May 26.

    Justice Phillips warned political parties and their candidates to refrain from the use of abusive language, avoid of forms of bribery and inducement of voters, focus their campaigns on their party manifestos and programmes and avoid basing their campaigns on sectional, ethnic and religious sentiments or prejudice among others.

    Failure to comply with the guidelines and other relevant provisions of the law, she said, would attract appropriate sanctions.

  • Council poll: LASIEC won’t use card reader

    Council poll: LASIEC won’t use card reader

    Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Chairman Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd) has said it would not use the card reader machine for the conduct of the forthcoming council elections.
    She disclosed this during a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials at LASIEC office, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos.
    Justice Phillips (retd) gave the closeness of the date of the elections as reason for their action.
    At the meeting, both parties resolved to constitute a joint committee on the distribution of about 1.47million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) that are still awaiting collection by registered voters in the state.
    LASIEC Chairman Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd) said it was imperative for the two commissions to ensure that more registered voters obtain their PVCs so that more eligible voters could participate in the forthcoming council elections.
    The partnership, she said, would, reduce voter apathy.
    INEC Administrative Secretary Mr Clement Oha, said the commission had decentralised the distribution of the PVCs from the headquarters of the 20 Local Governments to the 245 Registration Areas in the state to make it accessible to the people.
    He said INEC would soon embark on Continuous Registration of Voters in the state to enable eligible people register, adding that people who lost their PVCs would be issued Temporary Voter Cards.

  • LASIEC boss to politicians: we’ll not be partisan

    LASIEC boss to politicians: we’ll not be partisan

    The Chairman, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd), has assured leaders of political parties that the commission will not be partisan in carrying out its responsibilities.

    Phillips gave the assurance while speaking at a Political Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the commission at the Central Business District, Ikeja, Lagos.

    She allayed the fears of politicians over the conduct of free, fair and credible elections into the local government and local council development areas of the state.

    “The commission will erase the wrong perception of some of you about its being partisan particularly from members of the opposition parties. We would therefore wish to place on record our avowed commitment towards ensuring that there is a level playing field for each and every participant and stakeholders in the forthcoming local government election, irrespective of the political divide and affiliations. The commission shall strictly adhere to best practices in election management and will not perform below the benchmark for excellence in electoral administration… we are aware of the fact that we as election managers and administrators must be fair and unbiased because perceptions in elections are critical issues which may make or mar any poll,” she said.

    Stressing that she would do everything to protect her integrity and reputation, Phillips urged the politicians not to heat up the polity.

    The political class, she said, has a major role to play in ensuring peaceful, orderly and successful conduct of elections, noting that the way the political parties and their members conduct their affairs directly impacts on the conduct of elections, positively or negatively.

    She stressed the need for stronger collaboration and cooperation between the key stakeholders and the commission for the entrenchment of democracy and sound democratic practices at the grassroots level.