The Chairman, Lagos State
Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Hon. Justice Ayotunde Phillips, has
appealed to security agencies in the state to collaborate with the Commission
in ensuring violence-free election before, during and after the July 22, 2017
elections into the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of
the State. While speaking with the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr.
FataiOwoseni and his team, the Chairman promised that the Commission would
engage in regular discussions with security agencies on how to ensure peace and
security during the electoral process at the local government level of the
state. Hon. Justice Phillips revealed that the Commission had entered into
partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the
distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable every registered voter
collect his/her PVC before the elections so that more people could actively
participate in the elections. She added that the Commission had embarked on
sensitisation of the public through the mass media on the on-going distribution
of PVCs in the 245 Registration Area Centres of the state. She, therefore,
appealed to all eligible voters to take advantage of the opportunity to collect
their PVCs and show more interest and commitment towards the electoral process,
particularly at the local government level of the state. The Chairman also
pledged that the Commission would provide a level playing ground for all
political parties and their candidates, stressing, however, that politicians
must have confidence in the ability of the Commission to conduct free, fair and
credible elections into the 57 LGAs/LCDAs of the state. Also speaking at the
occasion, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, assured
the Commission of the support of the police towards ensuring hitch-free
elections, noting that this is part of the statutory functions of the police
that must be undertaken. Mr. Owoseni disclosed that it was because of this
reason that he held a meeting with the Chairmen and Secretaries of political
parties in the state as part of the efforts of the police to ensure
violence-free elections. He also informed the Chairman of the Commission that
his meeting with the political parties revealed that the decision of the
Commission to collect administrative fees from aspirants into the Local
Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the State was not favourably
disposed to by politicians. He, therefore, urged the two parties to resolve the
issue amicably. The Police Commissioner also revealed that he had directed
Divisional Police Officers in the state to engage with leaders of political
parties under their jurisdiction to ensure hitch-free elections. He also
disclosed that he would appoint an officer who would facilitate regular
interface between the Police and the Commission. Mr. Owoseni noted that as the
elections are around the corner, the Commission must start paying more
attention to public enlightenment and voter education, stressing that the more
enlightened the electorate are, the easier the task of the conduct of the
elections. He also urged media practitioners and reporters to be accurate,
modest and be careful in the use of language employed when reporting electoral
matters to avoid creating unnecessary tension and acrimony among the people,
adding that the press must also help the Commission in educating the electorate
on the electoral process. Also during the visit of the Commission to the
Commandants of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force at
the 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Hon. Justice Phillips appealed to the military to also
assist the Commission in ensuring security for the people to ensure the
successful conduct of the elections. The Chairman promised to forward copies of
the Notice of Election issued by the Commission to the military chiefs to
enable them plan adequately for areas of intervention and assistance to the
Commission. Responding, Brigadier- General Attu pledged that the military would
provide security back-up to secure election personnel and election materials to
ensure the successful conduct of the elections, adding that the military was
concerned about the menace of militancy and would do everything possible to
curb the negative development in the state. The military chiefs also requested
the Commission to provide them with relevant information on any flash points
and other areas requiring the special intervention of the military. The
Commission later visited the Director, Department of State Service, Mrs. B.
Adoki, at Shangisha, Magodo, Lagos where the Chairman also requested for
support towards ensuring adequate security to guarantee hitch-free elections
into the 57 LGAs/LCDAs of the State. On the entourage of the Chairman were
Chief ( Mrs. ) Toyin Ibrahim- Famakinwa, Mr. Olusegun Ayedun (both LASIEC
Commissioners ), Mr. NurudeenMabayoje Salami, Permanent Secretary of the
Commission and some senior officers of the Commission.
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