The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State has strongly criticized the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for its alleged lack of transparency and failure to engage political parties on critical issues concerning the upcoming local government elections. IPAC voiced its concerns over the commission’s silence on the implications of the Supreme Court’s pronouncements regarding local government autonomy and its potential impact on the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) established by the state.
A key point of contention for IPAC is the recent enactment of a revised LASIEC law, approved and signed in January, which empowers the commission to conduct elections into 57 LGs/LCDAs. The council expressed surprise at this development, stating that such significant legislation was not made public or shared with political parties. IPAC emphasized the importance of transparency and the need for political parties to have access to such crucial information for proper planning and participation in the electoral process.
Furthermore, IPAC highlighted the perceived lack of engagement from the new LASIEC board, led by Justice Mobolanle Okikiola-Ighinle (retd.). The council claimed that the board has only held one meeting with political parties since January, and that meeting was at IPAC’s request. This lack of proactive communication and consultation, according to IPAC, stands in stark contrast to the practices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State, which maintains continuous engagement and transparency with political stakeholders.
IPAC warned that the consistent late release of election guidelines and the absence of regular dialogue could lead political parties and their members to suspect that LASIEC is biased towards a predetermined outcome. The council urged LASIEC to learn from INEC’s approach by fostering continuous engagement, open communication, and transparency to ensure a smooth, free, and fair electoral process in the upcoming local government elections.
