1st May, 2012
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, said arrangement has been concluded toward conducting Saturday’s councillorship re-run election in Ward ‘H’ Oduselu/Ola of Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Chairman of the commission, Justice Afolabi Abdulfatai Adeyinka (retd), dropped this hint Monday at a pre-election press conference, held at the commission’s headquaters, Lagos, Justice Adeyinka said the re-run election became necessary after the returning officer declared the 22 October, 2011, local government election in the ward inconclusive and the election petition tribunal ordered the commission to conduct a re-run election in the ward.
As part of the measures put in place to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible, the commission’s chairman said: “although the re-run election pertains to one ward, LASIEC is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that we have a peaceful and successful councillorship election in ward ‘H’ Oduselu/Ola, Mushin Local Government Area, on 5 May, 2012.”
He added: “Adequate security measures have been put in place to forestall violence and activities of miscreants within the area. The commission is working with the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that policemen are deployed to the area ahead of time.”
Justice Adeyinka also said 18,000 customised ballot papers have been printed for 18,000 registered voters in the ward.
The election, according to the commission’s chairman, will be between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., while the counting of ballots will be between 3 p.m. and 4pm, and it will be open-secret-open voting system, whereby the vote would be cast in secret and counted in the open.
Justice Adeyinka called on the electorate in the area to come out en masse and vote for the candidate of their choice.