IPAC Lagos condemns late release of LG election guidelines
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The Inter-Party Advisory Council, Lagos Chapter, has condemned the late release of local government elections guidelines by the State’s Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), saying the lack of continued engagement with the political parties was an error that would lead to misinterpretation of the actions of the electoral body.
It would be recalled that LASIEC released the election guidelines and timetable on Friday (Yesterday), fixing July 12, 2025 as election day.
IPAC Lagos, in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Temilola Akinade and the Publicity Secretary, George Ashiru, said the recent announcement of the electoral “notice” for the upcoming local
Government elections was a clear example of LASIEC’s failure to demonstrate willingness for transparent relationship with political parties.
It added ” IPAC is the umbrella body of all 19 registered political parties in Nigeria,was established to ensure Governments at the Federal and State levels are accountable partners to the electorate, and to provide advisory input in policies and be a voice on behalf of the voting public and members of all 19 parties in Nigeria.
” 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’s 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.
” Since taking office in January, LASIEC’s under the leadership of Hon.justice
Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile (rtd) ,has only seen it fit to meet with political parties once, and that was at the request of IPAC.
“And, unfortunately,even that meeting,was conflated with another meeting with the Youth Council of Nigeria, showing the disregard for the germane issues that the political parties wanted to address.
” 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 37LCDAs
established by the State Government.
” 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 law 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. 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 elections”.
