By Gboyega Akinsanmi and Femi Durojaiye
The Lagos State House of Assembly at the weekend explained the rationale behind the ongoing amendment of the state Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Law, 2008, saying the amendment became imperative to prevent unforeseen situationsthat could stoke a political crisis and legal battle.
The Lagos State House of Assembly at the weekend explained the rationale behind the ongoing amendment of the state Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Law, 2008, saying the amendment became imperative to prevent unforeseen situationsthat could stoke a political crisis and legal battle.
The assembly said the amendment was specifically designed to avoid what happened in Kogi State in December 2015 when the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Audu Abubakar, died and also accommodate permanent voter cards (PVCs) in the new regime.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions LASIEC, Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho, provided details of the amendment at a stakeholders meeting at the weekend, adding that it would avert future occurrence of what led to the crisis in Kogi State.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions LASIEC, Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho, provided details of the amendment at a stakeholders meeting at the weekend, adding that it would avert future occurrence of what led to the crisis in Kogi State.
The amendment, which was reviewed by the Majority Leader of the assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, contained nine sections. But cogent in the amendment is the section, stating that where a person duly elected as chairman of LGA/LCDA “dies before subscribing to oath of allegiance, the person elected with him as vice-chairman shall be sworn in as chairman.”
At the meeting, the chairman explained that the rules “must be dynamic. It must be reviewed from time to time just like laws. PVC is a new development that has to be included in our laws. It is important to note that the Kogi State gubernatorial debacle was not envisaged in the constitution and Electoral Act.
“We have to continue to amend our laws and we have tried to put that in our amendment. The amendment of the law would reduce cases in the courts because when the law is clear, you don’t have to go for the interpretation of the law.
At the meeting, the chairman explained that the rules “must be dynamic. It must be reviewed from time to time just like laws. PVC is a new development that has to be included in our laws. It is important to note that the Kogi State gubernatorial debacle was not envisaged in the constitution and Electoral Act.
“We have to continue to amend our laws and we have tried to put that in our amendment. The amendment of the law would reduce cases in the courts because when the law is clear, you don’t have to go for the interpretation of the law.
“We have to ensure that laws are in place for local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), especially while preparing for election which will happen soon, they must have laws that will guide them,” the chairman explained.
Also, one of the stakeholders, Mr. Olumide Lawal pointed out another section to be amended, noting that there should be a provision that would take care of the remuneration of tribunal members in the law.
He said those working in the tribunals “should be equipped with recording gadgets because they still write with long hands, which supposed not to be. At times, we have cases, whereby we have 150 witnesses and this takes time, when we use long hands to write their evidences.”
On the conduct of local council elections, one of the commissioners of LASIEC who spoke privately with journalists, said the election “is yet to hold due to the delay in the provision of voters’ register from Abuja.”
The commissioner explained that the people in charge “have visited our office and promised to make them available as soon as possible. But the truth is that Abuja has not provided complete voter register.”
Also, one of the stakeholders, Mr. Olumide Lawal pointed out another section to be amended, noting that there should be a provision that would take care of the remuneration of tribunal members in the law.
He said those working in the tribunals “should be equipped with recording gadgets because they still write with long hands, which supposed not to be. At times, we have cases, whereby we have 150 witnesses and this takes time, when we use long hands to write their evidences.”
On the conduct of local council elections, one of the commissioners of LASIEC who spoke privately with journalists, said the election “is yet to hold due to the delay in the provision of voters’ register from Abuja.”
The commissioner explained that the people in charge “have visited our office and promised to make them available as soon as possible. But the truth is that Abuja has not provided complete voter register.”
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