BY-ELECTIONS: LASIEC TRAINS AD-HOC STAFF

As part of preparations for the conduct of the Councillorship by-elections into Ward B (Ogunoloko) and Ward B (Dopemu) of Oshodi/Isolo and Agege Local Governments Areas of Lagos State respectively, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has organised a training programme for ad-hoc personnel to be engaged for the conduct of elections scheduled for Saturday, 24^th March, 2018.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training programme, the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Justice Ayotunde Phillips stated that the training programme was organised to familiarise the ad-hoc personnel with the expectations of the Commission for a successful conduct of the elections.

The Chairman, who was represented at the occasion by an Electoral Commissioner, Chief (Mrs.) Toyin Ibrahim-Famakinwa, further pointed out that as an electoral umpire committed to free, fair and credible elections, it is expected that the ad-hoc personnel put the knowledge acquired during the training programme into practice while discharging their duties as electoral officials.

Justice Phillips emphasised that the Commission was very conscious of the need to protect its image as an electoral umpire, saying that the ad-hoc personnel must, therefore, abide by the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of elections at the Local Government level in LagosState.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Sesan Tunde Ogundeko, underscored the importance of training election personnel, noting that the need for adequate training of ad-hoc staff to be deployed for the conduct of the elections “cannot be over-emphasised”.

Describing the electorate and other stakeholders as customers who must be treated as kings, Ogundeko stressed that the ad-hoc personnel must be fully prepared to meet the expectations of the public through strict adherence to due process and the rule of law in the conduct of the Councillorship by-elections.

He also urged the personnel to demonstrate the highest degree of impartiality and transparency while carrying out their assigned responsibilities during the elections to ensure the credibility of the process.

The Permanent Secretary said that all the materials required for the successful conduct of the elections were already in possession of the Commission awaiting deployment to locations where they would be utilized.

He informed that accreditation and voting will be done simultaneously between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the day of the by-elections in the two Wards of the affected Local Government Areas while the results of the elections will be announced at the Ward Collation Centres.