By Dapo Akinrefon
The Youth Party (YP) Chairmanship Candidate for Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr. Ayodele Adio, has insisted that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) cannot conduct elections into the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), asserting that they are not constitutionally recognized.
The local council elections are scheduled for July 2025 in the state. However, concerns have been raised about LASIEC’s decision to conduct elections in areas not backed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a statement, Mr. Adio criticized efforts by certain stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to conduct elections in the LCDAs, describing it as a violation of the law. He said:
“You mentioned that elections were going to hold in 20 Local Governments and 37 LCDAs. That was a combustible issue in the debate we had during the public hearing. Just like the Youth Party did in its presentation, several other lawyers and political parties made it clear that it is illegal to contest elections in 37 LCDAs that are not recognized by the Constitution.”
He lamented that despite clear legal arguments against it, preparations for the elections in these unrecognized LCDAs have continued.
“Unfortunately, it seems business is going on as usual. The media has also propagated the narrative that elections will hold in the 37 LCDAs when it is a clear illegality. I say this because if indeed those 37 LCDAs are recognized by law, Honorable Jimi Benson and Honorable Faleke, who represent Ikeja Constituency, would not be sponsoring an amendment in the National Assembly to recognize the 37 LCDAs as legitimate local governments in Lagos.”
Adio explained that the bill being sponsored in the National Assembly to amend the Constitution is evidence that the LCDAs lack legal standing.
“They recognize that those LCDAs are not recognized by law. Hence, they are sponsoring that bill in the National Assembly to amend the Constitution. Until that amendment is made, it is illegal and unconstitutional to conduct or elect members into those LCDAs that are complete strangers to the law.”
He further pointed out that President Bola Tinubu, who created the LCDAs during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, fought for their recognition up to the Supreme Court. However, as President, his administration only disburses federal funds to the 20 constitutionally recognized Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos.
“As passionate as he is about the 37 LCDAs, none of them got a dime from Abuja. So, why are we perpetuating this gross and brazen illegality by conducting elections into offices that are not recognized by the law? How is it going to be funded?”
Adio called for adherence to the rule of law, stressing that conducting elections into unconstitutional entities would undermine the integrity of the electoral process and deepen legal irregularities in Lagos State.
CREDIT: VANGUARD
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/05/lg-polls-why-lasiec-cant-conduct-election-into-37-lcdas-yp-chairmanship-candidate-adio/
