Release timetable for LG election, Olaifa charges LASIEC
By Damilola Kushimo
The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area (LGA), Hon. Sunday Olaifa has called on the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to release the timetable for the local government election in the state to disclaim the rumour that the election might not hold.
Olaifa claimed that there have been insinuations that the state may impose a caretaker committee after the expiration of the incumbent political office holders in the local government areas across the state.
In a chat with ECHONEWS, the PDP chairman explained that any further delay in the release of the election timetable is a sign of unpreparedness for the election that could make the state government unconstitutionally set up interim council committees when the tenure of the incumbents elapse in July.
Olaifa, who is the Chair of Chair of PDP Lagos State LGA Chairmen and the National Deputy Chairman of PDP 774 LGA Chairmen emphasised that it is unconstitutional to have caretaker committees in place calling on the state government and LASIEC to ensure that the election is freely and fairly conducted as and when due.
His words: “It is completely unconstitutional to have caretaker committees across all LGAs and LCDAs in the state and our party is saying a big no to that because the constitution clearly explained that there must be elected representatives of the people to represent their interests.
“To further substantiate this, President Muhammmadu Buhari, through the Attorney General, came out with an official position recently stating clearly that It’s not only Illegal to have caretaker committees in place of elected political office holders but it’s unlawful and there should be elections as soon as possible so that we will have elected representatives of the people in the councils. By now we expect that the timetable should be out to define how the election will go but we don’t have that up till now which is very unfortunate. What we are saying, as a party, is that LASIEC, In a matter of days, should release the timetable for the local government elections. It is very important.
“The tenure of the current political office holders comes to an end in the first week of July. There’s no substitution, you cannot have a caretaker chairman or Executive Secretary, it’s an aberration and a total disregard of the constitution of this country. I want to believe that the authority in Lagos will not do what’s unconstitutional.”
