A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Fouad Oki has written a letter to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) over the State Local Government election.
He recalled that the LASIEC conducted the last local government election on July 22 2017 for a four-year tenure and the tenure of elected 20 local government chairmen and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) is expected to end on July 25 2021 having been sworn into office on July 25 2017.
READ ALSO: Governor Makinde Sacks Ladoke Akintola University Vice Chancellor
Oki who believed that there are tricky moves to prevent the State Government and its political benefactor from holding Local Government elections as at when due, urged Lagosians to rise up to challenge the ‘robbery of democratic norms.’
According to him, “the plan is to introduce Caretaker administrations in the local government the same way it was done between 2014 to 2017 despite a court ruling that LASIEC should conduct election forthwith, following an earlier suit filed by the party, a Lagos State High Court had, in 2015, declared the caretaker committees administering local governments in the state as null and void and ordered that elections be conducted within 90 days.”
He noted that the integrity of the LASIEC boss, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (Rtd) is also at stake as she promised, four years ago, to uphold the tenets and dictates of the rule of law.
READ ALSO: Uber, Bolt Drivers Threaten Strike Monday
Oki stressed that the State Government cannot make any excuse for not preparing for a once in four years exercise, especially when the State has been able to relatively flatten the COVID-19 Pandemic curve.
“..that cannot be an excuse, he said, adding that “more pandemic raven State like Kano just concluded its Local Government elections some few weeks back, even in the thick midst of the Pandemic, Plateau State conducted the election and almighty INEC conducted an election in Lagos State in December 2020.”
“Hence, there cannot be any reason or justification for not holding an election other than, the fact that an unseen hand has not given a go-ahead in that direction. It will be very unfortunate if that comes to pass, indeed, it will tantamount to executive lawlessness and confirm an evident suspicion that it is the fons et origo, (that is, the provenance, from which all sub-constitutional norms derive its source and sustenance) that is actually at work.”
He added: “If general elections are held every four years to elect the President, Governors and members of the national and state assemblies, there is no justifiable reason, except where a state of emergency has been declared, for a state governor to dissolve a Local Government and appoint a caretaker council in its place.”
READ ALSO: Chelsea Beat Man City To Secure Place In FA Cup Final
The APC Chieftain urged the Attorney General of Lagos State to advise and guard the State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu on the effect of taking any action that will bring him and his government into disrepute and pitch him against the people of Lagos State who are yearning for fresh election and mandate to officials who will be entrusted with their sovereign franchise for another four years.
“He should also work with the LASIEC to ensure that, the latest date to announce or publish notice of elections is adhered to.”
Oki requested the State Attorney-General to take another look at a letter written by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for immediate disbandment of caretaker committees and restoration of elected local government representatives across the states of the federation.
He charged the leadership of LASIEC not to be tempted with the allure of office and bring itself to disrepute.
“I beseech you to stand up and uphold oath you swore to do right and create an environment where the rule of law is sacrosanct,” Oki said.
© ControlTV 2021.
