15th August, 2011
Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, chairmanship aspirants for the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria have started picking forms for the poll.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, has announced 22 October the elections across the 20 local governments and the 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDA’s in the state.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the scramble for the form has forced the party to extend the deadline for the collection of the form which was expected to close today till Wednesday.
The submission of completed forms was also shifted to Friday.
The rush for the form this morning was not as serious as was the case in 2008 because of the ACN’s resolve to return incumbent local government chairmen who had just completed their first term for a second term in office.
Since the release of the ACN guidelines for the council polls last week, some chairmanship aspirants have flagged off their campaigns.
P.M.NEWS gathered that election primaries have been conducted in some local government areas in the state.
It was learnt that some non-performing incumbent chairmen were being dropped in line with the ACN directive.
Councillors who were always at loggerheads with their council chairmen and those who have threatened their chairmen with impeachment were denied a return ticket.
ACN national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier advised aspirants against wasting their money on wooing party leaders, adding that those fond of dropping his name to gain advantage would meet their waterloo.
“Our leaders have met and decided on many issues. If you have not performed well in office, you are not coming back for a second term. If you know that there is a chairman who is not respected at home, who does not command followership, we will not pick him.
“There will be no refund of nomination fees if you fail at the screening level. Your payment will be part of your contribution to the party. If there are bad councillors who only think about impeaching their chairmen, who only demand money and jeep from their chairmen, we know them and they know themselves. But those who are steadfast should continue,†Tinubu said.
—Yisa Jamiu