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Tag: LASIEC

  • 2015: Fashola commends LASIEC over delineation of wards

    2015: Fashola commends LASIEC over delineation of wards

    LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has commended the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for successfully delineating wards and creation of additional polling units in the state.

    Fashola, who gave the commendation while receiving the report of the exercise at the State House, Marina, said it was borne out of the need to ensure that residents, particularly those in new settlements, are not disenfranchised.

    Pointing out that many densely populated housing estates were constructed in Lagos over the last eight years, the governor said INEC would definitely find the report very useful.

    He said: “We know that many estates have sprung up in the last seven to eight years and on election days, we want to be in a position to ensure that they do not have to travel long distances going back to their old addresses and agonising about where they should vote.

    “This is the primary purpose of the delineation exercise and to ensure that where certain places have become densely populated, what was put in place to let people vote may become insufficient, overcrowded and in the event people may be disenfranchised and this is important.”

    While expressing hope that the series of meetings between LASIEC and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) are successful, he added, “Nobody would know a community better than the people who live there. I think it would be important for them to understand that this can only be helpful to their work.”

    Earlier, LASIEC Chairman, Justice Fatai Adeyinka (retd), said the newly completed delineation of wards and polling units in the State would help the INEC in the conduct of the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

    He added that the process involved a series of stakeholders’ forum where boundary disputes were identified as part of the challenges which could mar elections in the State.

    He also disclosed that five states have made requests to understudy LASIEC’s approach because of the success recorded on the delineation of wards.

  • States can sue Senate over council enlistment, says LASIEC chair

    States can sue Senate over council enlistment, says LASIEC chair

    Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Abdul-Fatai Adeyinka, said the state government could go to court to compel the Senate to list the new councils created, if the Senate fails to enlist them.

    Justice Adeyinka stated this while welcoming members of the Ogun State Independent Electoral commission (OGSIEC) who were on a visit to the LASIEC for an interactive meeting on the conduct of referendum for the creation of additional local governments.

    He reiterated the constitutionality of the state governments to create new local governments, stressing that the provision was affirmed by the Supreme Court ruling in a case between the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    LASIEC Permanent Secretary, Yinka Jeje, emphasised the need to be apolitical in carrying out a referendum for the creation of additional councils, so as to make the exercise credible and acceptable to the generality of the people.

  • Cleric urges youths to seek for knowledge

    The Chief Imam of Oriwu Ikorodu Central Mosque Alhaji Ashamadini Yahya Oshoala has urged Islamic youths in the country to seek for knowledge and use it for the glory of God.

    The Islamic Cleric said it is the only way the youths can contribute meaningfully to the development of the religion.

    Oshoala who spoke at a book launch on Islamic and Ikorodu history entitled ‘Islam in Ikorodu and its Environs’ and the first walimatul-qur’an in the mosque, hailed the author of the book for his effort to ensure that Islam and Ikorodu history remain documented.

    He said the author is the first Ikorodu indegene to write a book in the same language with Quran.

    The Clergyman therefore urged youths to use their knowledge for the glory of God rather than engaging in other anti vices struggles.

    He maintained that he had made several efforts to ensure that he wrote a book on islam and Ikorodu but all his effort was prove abortive.

    In his own contribution, the Chairman of Lagos State Electoral Commission (LASIEC) chief Abdlefatai Adeyinka said the mosque has taken a giant stride by establishing a Quranic school in Lagos State.

    He said no mosque in the State has ever organise such school adding that the first walimatul-qur’an is a landmark achievement in the history of the Ikorodu.

    In his own remark, the lecturer at the event, Alh Thaoban Adam Al-Ilory said the only legacy any parents can give to their children is to inculcate the word of God in them.

    He admonished youths across the country to use their time judiciously and contribute meaningful to the development of the country.

  • Governor condoles with ex-LASIEC boss

    Lagos State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola has condoled with the former Commissioner of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Mr Musbau Oyefeso, on the death of his mother, Alhaja Mulikat Anike Oyefeso.

    Alhaja Oyefeso until her death was a devote Muslim and a caring mother.

    The governor’s condolence message was contained in a letter sent to Mr Oyefeso through the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Olanrewaju Babalola.

    In the letter, Governor Fashola described late Alhaja Oyefeso as a forthright and honest person. “Without doubt, Alhaja was a worthy role model whose forthrightness, honesty and piety must have rubbed off positively on you and your siblings given your most commendable service to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission where you served till recently as an electoral commissioner,” he said.

    He urged the former LASIEC boss and his family to take solace in Allah over the death of their mother.

    In another condolence by the Teachers Shelter Foundation, a nongovernmental organization, sympathizer with the Oyefesos on the dead of their mother. The letter was signed on behalf of the organization by Mr Adetoro Aina.

    “The death of Mama no doubt, is an irreplaceable loss, but we take solace in the fact that Allah giveth and taketh and o Him Mama has returned,” he said.

    Also sending in their condolence letter is the youth wing of Ansaru-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, sympathiosed with the family and prayed for the repose of the late Alhaja Oyefeso.

  • Turnout of voters declining, says LASIEC

    Turnout of voters declining, says LASIEC

    Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has expressed worry over the decline in voter’s turn-out at council elections, saying that the trend is alarming.

    LASIEC Chairman Justice Fatai Adeyinka (rtd) urged political parties, civil societies, the media and other stakeholders to sensitise the people to the importance of grassroots elections in the state.

    Justice Adeyinka, who addressed a meeting of political party leaders in his office, said the commission would conduct a by-election at’ Ward A’ of the Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area on February 26. The councillorship seat became vacant, following the demise of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) councillor, Mr. Abayomi Akintokun, on September 3, last year. The chairman said the notice of the by-election had been published on February 7.

    The LASIEC boss lamented the low turn-out at previous council polls, urging the party leaders to mobilise Lagosians for subsequent elections.

    “I will like to draw your attention to the decline in voters turn-out in local government elections in Lagos State and other states of the Federation. This decline has been attributed to apathy and general lack of interest on the part of the electorate. The political parties, LASIEC and other stakeholders should individually and jointly take steps to arrest the alarming decline”.

    Justice Adeyinka said the electoral commission had embarked on rigorous civic education to sensitise stakeholders to the import of the grassroots elections, including the parties, security personnel, civil society groups and other government officials.

    He urged the stakeholders to encourage eligible voters to perform their civic responsibilities during the bye-election taking place at Ward A, Alayabiagba, Ajeromi/Ifelodun local government area.

    “The voting procedure of “open-secret-open”, by which accreditation will take place between 9 am and 3 pm will be used. There are 39 polling units in Ward A. Votes will be counted at each polling unit. The results from the 39 polling units will be collated at the collation centre. The total results will be announced at the collation centre by the Returning Officer. Eligible voters should conduct themselves in an orderly manner and shun violence and other vices that mar elections”, he said.

     

  • How to avert voter apathy in Lagos, by LASIEC

    How to avert voter apathy in Lagos, by LASIEC

    Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) yesterday expressed worries over recurrent voter apathy in the state, urging traditional rulers and community leaders to mobilise people for future local government polls.

    Its chairman, Justice Fatai Adeyinka (rtd), lamented the decline in the turnout of registered voters at periodic elections. He said democracy cannot be sustained by the reluctance of people to choose or reject their leaders during elections. The former Chief Judge of Lagos State said, since local government is the closest to the grassroots, more people should turn out to vote for the chairmanship and councillorship candidates.

    Adeyinka spoke in Lagos at the ‘Civic populace stakeholders’ forum’ organised by the commission. It was attended by representatives of the state Council of Obas and Chiefs, market men and women associations, council chairmen and councillors, and community development associations. At the forum, a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Funmilayo Tejuoso, delivered a lecture titled: “Building a culture of effective representation: The role of a civic populace”. She said the people have uncritically confused the roles of the legislature with the executive, thereby rebuking legislators for lapses committed by the executive arm of government. Tejuoso pointed out that many voters expected lawmakers to construct roads and provide other social amenities, despite the fact that they lack the constitutional power to implement the budget.

    Frowning at voters’ apathy, he said: “Organising elections in which participation and turnout is low is a frustrating experience for election managers. Low turnout at elections denies the populace the opportunity to exercise their civic right and duty”.

    In 2008, 4.1 million voters registered ahead of the council polls. Only 1,5 million voted, representing 25 percent of the registered voters. The figures declined in 2011. While 6.1 million voters registered, 781,363 voted, representing 12.76 per cent.

    Adeyinka appealed to Lagosians to embrace voting at grassroots elections as a patriotic duty in the interest of democracy. He said a vibrant and active civic populace should promote public trust, foster accountability and build support for democratic values in the state by participating in governance through the choice of democratic leaders.

    The LASIEC boss highlighted the roles of the community leaders in mobiisation for democracy. He said: “The role of the civic populace in any democracy is of utmost importance as these groups are the closest to the grassroots. The civic populace interacts with the electorate on daily basis. They also provide spiritual, moral and commercial assistance to the people. The elders and leaders can significantly influence the level of citizen education and participation and contribute to the transparency and fairness in any electoral process”.

    Urging the traditional and religious leaders to discharge their obligations to the polity, Adeyinka said they should build a culture of encouraging their people to appreciate the significance of periodic elections. He added: “We all have the right to take part in the governance of this nation, directly or indirectly, by choosing our representatives through the electoral process. The collective will and trust of our people are the basis of authority of government. This authority is exercised periodically through the conduct of elections into various offices”.

    Tejuoso, who is a former deputy speaker of the House of Assembly, conducted political education for participants at the forum. She stressed the constitutional attainment of school certificate for eligible office holders in the country, adding that aspirants are not required to forge the certificate, even if they came out with poor results.

    The legislator also highlighted the functions of the legislature, clarifying that they are not in charge of execution of projects. She pointed out that House of Representatives members may implement some constituency projects because they get constituency allowances for them. But she said that state legislators can only lobby the executive to attract projects to their constituencies.

    Tejuoso stressed: “It is important to quickly point out that legislators don’t construct roads, award contracts, provide water or electricity. It is not our job, but that of the executive. Legislators lobby to get some of these things done, to attract these things to our constituencies. Basically, our responsibilities revolve around making laws that would bring about good governance in all ramifications”.

    The lawmaker said effective representation also required gathering views of constituents and reflecting them at the level of decision making. She however lamented that the economic downturn had beclouded the perception of the people about the roles of the legislators.

    Tejuoso said: “Because of the poverty challenges, we have become the provider of solutions to economic challenges in our constituencies. Many of our constituents approach us for financial help during the wedding and naming ceremonies of their children. When we wake up, people are lining up to see us. When we get to the office, people are waiting to see us. When we get home in the night, they are there to see us for solutions to their economic problems. Unfortunately, the resources available are never sufficient to meet these challenges”.

    The lawmaker said when a legislators boasts of attracting good roads to their constituencies, people usually discourage them by urging them to “tar our mouths, instead of tarring our toads”. Tejuoso also complained that street urchins, popularly known as ‘area boys’ often harass lawmakers, oblivious of the fact they depend on their salaries to survive.

    She urged the constituents to cooperate with the legislature by furnishing information on the needs of their needs to the legislators who live among them. She said that the people can also monitor the implementation of government projects by reporting to the appropriate agencies the observable lapses of the contractors on site. Tejuoso however, warned them not to convert project monitoring into an opportunity to extort the contractors, warning that it would be counter-productive.

    The lawmaker also urged the people to project government’s assets and projects in their environment. She said maintenance culture involves the protection of public utilities, especially roads, transformers, hospitals and other social infrastructure, adding that people should also refrain from building on canals.

    Tejuoso added: “Let it be known that legislators are not out to steal money. As we request for your cooperation, you must appreciate that the communal interest must supersede individual interest. So, instead of abusing us that we have not given you money, you should criticise us if your roads are not tarred”.