21st October, 2011
As election into the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas holds in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, on Saturday (tomorrow), the two leading political parties, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and others have intensified moves to outwit one another.
With the PDP returning to the polls after a long absence that reduced the last two elections to a no-contest as the ruling ACN had a field day clearing all 57 councils, Saturday’s exercise promises to be a tough contest.
The last time the PDP participated in council elections in Lagos was in 2003. It boycotted subsequent elections in protest of the creation of 37 LCDAs, which it insisted were illegal as they were yet to be ratified by the National Assembly.
On offer for tomorrow electoral combat among 28 political parties are 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship slots.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, Justice Abdul Fatai Afolabi Adeyinka(rtd) has assured voters and the parties of a credible election.
He said about 18,000 electoral officers and adhoc staff would be deployed for the election, adding that he has asked the police to deploy about 20,000 policemen to ensure adequate security.
The political parties cleared for the polls include APN, ARP, SDMP, KOWA, FRESH, NMPP, ACN, PDP, APGA, NCP, ADC, ACCORD and MPPP. Others are CFN, CPC, JP, PMP, AA, Labour, MDJ, ACPN, DPP, APS, ALP, ANPP, PRP, ND and NNPP.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the PDP said it is participating in the elections in order to influence the National Assembly to list the LCDAs in the Constitution.
The state chairman of the party, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, who disclosed this added that the party would even ask for more LCDAs and have them listed by the National Assembly if need be.
He said,”Our party shall participate in this election. We have been mobilised to participate in the elections as a matter of necessity. This necessity is to hear the call of Lagosians that we must contest, provide better grassroots government to Lagosians and come into local government administration to influence the National Assembly to list the LCDAs in the Constitution.
“We reiterate that Lagos PDP will even ask for more LCDAs and have them listed by the NASS if need be. We must point out that our resolve to participate in this elections is causing jitters within the ACN. Our strength to win in this election lies in the apparent disenchantment the grassroots electorate have with ACN council chairmen and councillors,” he said.
According to the state chairman of ACN, Otunba Henry Oladele Ajomale,”We have never run from opposition. It is part of democracy. If they have not been interested before, we thank God that they have now seen the light that the 20 local governments and the 37 local council development areas are here to stay.
“Therefore, if they can participate in the elections, it will be for the good of Lagos State. We are happy about it. Running an election without opposition is not conducive and winning in such an election is not something you can be proud of. Let each party campaign and contest and let us see the most popular party.
“If it is not done, it will be difficult to ascertain the acceptability of a party among the people. Election is a testing ground and we believe that as usual the ACN will continue to lead,” he said with absolute confidence.