By Our Reporter Tension erupted on Monday at the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) headquarters as candidates of the P...
By Our Reporter
Tension erupted on Monday at the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) headquarters as candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) raised the alarm over missing nomination forms ahead of the July 12 local government elections.
The opposition parties accused LASIEC of deliberate sabotage, claiming their forms—duly submitted weeks earlier—had mysteriously vanished during the ongoing screening exercise for chairmanship and councillorship candidates.
The screening, which began on June 26, progressed smoothly for candidates from some parties. However, when PDP and LP candidates showed up on their scheduled dates, they were told their documents could not be found. This, they allege, is part of a calculated attempt to disenfranchise credible opposition voices.
A PDP candidate from Badagry described how LASIEC officials suddenly demanded additional paperwork, including fresh photocopies of voter cards, just hours before the screening. “It was clear they were trying to frustrate us,” he said.
By 8 p.m., tempers flared. Chaos broke out at the commission’s office, with aggrieved aspirants and party supporters protesting what they called a “rigged” process. The uproar forced LASIEC to temporarily suspend the exercise.
In contrast, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates who underwent screening on Saturday, June 28, reportedly faced no such hurdles. All were cleared without delays or missing documents—an outcome that has further stoked allegations of bias.
“This is a targeted move to suppress the PDP because our candidates are widely accepted by the people,” said PDP chieftain Prince Adedipe Ewenla, who described the incident as a threat to democracy.
Candidates from several areas—including Agege LGA, Iba LCDA, Olorunda LCDA, and Badagry LGA—now face uncertainty over their eligibility to appear on the ballot. An LP candidate from Iba LCDA urged Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene. “We urge the Lagos State Government to act before it’s too late,” he pleaded.
As of press time, LASIEC had yet to issue an official statement, leaving affected candidates and their supporters in suspense.
The incident has raised serious concerns about LASIEC’s credibility and the transparency of the upcoming elections. Opposition parties are threatening legal action, and civil society groups are beginning to monitor the situation closely.
“You no go do us ojoro!” a protester shouted in Pidgin—a defiant rallying cry against what many believe to be electoral manipulation.
As Lagos prepares for the July 12 polls, the controversy underscores the fragile state of grassroots democracy and the urgent need for electoral reforms to restore public confidence in the system.
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