The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party has voiced concerns about the upcoming local government election, which is set to take place in the state’s 20 local government areas and the Local Council Development Areas.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently inaugurated the chairman and members of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission on Friday, during a ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Governor’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja.
In a statement issued to the Nigerian Tribune, LP spokesperson Mrs. Olubunmi Odesanya expressed the party’s apprehension regarding the election process.
She referred to the Supreme Court ruling on the autonomy of local governments and noted the Lagos State House of Assembly’s passage of a bill late last year that established the 20 local governments while converting the LCDAs into area offices.
Odesanya called on the ruling party and its leaders to allow LASIEC to conduct the elections in accordance with the constitution. She highlighted that the bill passed by the state assembly in late 2024 formalized the establishment of the 20 LGs and redefined the LCDAs.
The LP spokesperson also recalled that the 37 LCDAs were created by President Bola Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State, a move that sparked a dispute with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who opposed the creation of the LCDAs. Odesanya questioned whether LASIEC or the All Progressives Congress would ultimately determine where the elections should occur.
Odesanya concluded by stating that the Labour Party would not stand idly by as the ruling party continues what she described as its disregard for the law, promising that LP would use peaceful and lawful means to prevent the ruling party’s alleged intentions from succeeding.
“The State Assembly passed a bill late towards the end of 2024, establishing the 20 LGs and converting the LCDAs to area offices,” she stated.
” The State Assembly passed a bill late towards the end of 2024, establishing the 20 LGs and converting the LCDAs to area offices,” she stated.