8th September, 2010
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), has assured Lagos residents on creation of additional wards and polling units to enable them to be represented and participate fully in the coming general elections.
Justice Abdul-Fatai Adeyinka (retd), chairman of the commission, made this known on Monday at a stakeholdersâ€
Adeyinka stated that his commission had met with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, informing him that it has embarked on delineation of wards and creation of additional polling units to enable people at the grassroots to be fully represented and participate in the coming general elections and that the report would soon be made available to REC, while calling on countryâ€
He, however, stated that not all the demands made by the stakeholders would be granted as such are subjected to INECâ€
He also advised Lagosians to come out to register and vote during election period.
Mr. Olalekan Mabinuori, Commissioner, Lagos Central Zone of the commission, said that the idea behind the forum was to afford residents of the state to receive memoranda on demands for more polling units and wards delineation, promising the commissionâ€
Mr. Jide Jimoh, Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Area, pledged his support for the stakeholdersâ€
Mr. Oladele Adekanye, his Lagos Mainland Local Government counterpart, used the forum to call for the postponement of the elections, as, according to him, it is impossible for INEC to conduct a credible election in January 2011.
Adekanye opined that the electoral umpire needs more time to educate Nigerians about its programmes and to carry out lots of reforms within the commission before embarking on any election.
With this, he said, the country could expect a credible election.
The stakeholdersâ€
—Paul Sanusi