By Dansu Peter A growing chorus of opposition is rising against the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) over its reporte...
By Dansu Peter
A growing chorus of opposition is rising against the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) over its reported plans to conduct elections into 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), which critics say lack constitutional backing.
Leading the charge is retired Major General Tajudeen Olarenwaju, a former Minister of Communications, who described the planned election as a “constitutional absurdity.” In a strongly worded statement, Olarenwaju questioned the legality of holding elections in local councils not recognized by Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
“We need more voices to challenge this absurdity,” he said. “If elections were conducted only in the 20 constitutionally recognised Local Government Areas (LGAs), indigenes would make up 90 percent of the contestants. But with the inclusion of 37 LCDAs, the political playing field is skewed against indigenes.”
He warned that the move amounts to stripping Lagos indigenes of their political heritage, calling for legal action to stop what he described as an unconstitutional process.
“It is unlawful to contest elections in both the 20 LGAs and the 37 LCDAs that exist only by state creation and not constitutional recognition,” he added. “If any party challenges this in court, the entire exercise could be declared a nullity.”
Joining the protest is the Youth Party (YP) Chairmanship candidate for Eti-Osa LGA, Ayodele Adio, who echoed Olarenwaju’s concerns. Adio described the plan as “grossly illegal,” noting that several legal and political experts have long argued against conducting elections in unrecognized council areas.
“We’re hearing again that elections are being planned for 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs. This issue sparked heated debate during the last public hearing,” Adio said. “If those 37 LCDAs were truly legal, why would federal lawmakers like Jimi Benson and James Faleke be sponsoring a bill to amend the Constitution to legitimize them?”
Adio pointed out the contradiction in pushing ahead with elections in the LCDAs while acknowledging their legal ambiguity at the federal level.
“Even President Bola Tinubu, who created the LCDAs during his time as governor and fought for them all the way to the Supreme Court, has not been able to get them recognized federally,” he said. “His administration only allocates funds to the 20 LGAs acknowledged in the Constitution. None of the 37 LCDAs has received a dime from Abuja.”
He questioned how LASIEC intends to fund and legitimize elections into offices that legally do not exist.
“Why are we perpetuating a brazen illegality?” Adio asked. “Until the Constitution is amended, elections into these 37 LCDAs are nothing more than a political mirage.”
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