Kunle Adelabu
The Lagos Chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body of all 19 registered political parties in Nigeria, has frowned at the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) over the guidelines released for the conduct of the 2025 LG polls into the 57 councils in the state.
LASIEC on Friday had released guidelines announcing the conduct of the LG elections on Saturday July 12.
IPAC in a statement signed by its Chairman, Temilola Akinade and George Ashiru, PRO, said that the notice released by the electoral body does portend lack of good relationship with the political parties.
It said that the conduct of the forthcoming elections in the 37 LCDAs remain unresolved in view of the Supreme Court’s pronouncement.
“IPAC Lagos Chapter, which represents the electorate in Lagos State, arguably the largest bloc of voting citizens in Nigeria frowns at what it sees as the new Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission board’s penchant for disregarding established communication protocols with political parties under the aegis of IPAC.
“The recent announcement of the electoral “notice” for the upcoming Local Government elections is a clear example of LASIEC’s failure to demonstrate a willingness for transparent relationship with political parties.
“Critical questions and issues remain unresolved as regards the appropriate interpretation of the Supreme Court’s pronouncements on LG autonomy and how that impacts the 37 LCDAs established by the State Government.”
The body also condemned the process through which the revised LASIEC was done:
“IPAC only recently learned that a revised LASIEC Law empowering the agency to conduct executive elections into 57 LG/LCDAs was approved surreptitiously on the 9th of January and signed into law on the 10th of January into by the Governor.
“This took IPAC by surprise! Such critical legislation should be in the public domain! This information was not made public on any platform and copies of the new Law is yet to be made available to IPAC for distribution to political parties.
“Since the guidelines are guided by this Law IPAC expects that LASIEC would have called for a series of meetings with parties, to explain the provisions of the Law as it affects the upcoming elections, rather, as it appears to be the custom, the political parties were not carried along.”
While charging LASIEC to learn from INEC on the need for constant engagement with stakeholders, IPAC also frowned at the lateness of the guidelines.
“LASIEC has a lot to learn from INEC in Lagos State about the need for continuous engagement, communication, and transparency in order to have a smooth, free and fair election.
“The constant late release of guidelines close to when the electoral cycle begins and the lack of continued engagement with the political parties is an error that will lead political parties and their members to misinterpret the actions of LASIEC as driving in the direction of a predetermined outcome,” IPAC said.
