LASIEC PRESENTS CERTIFICATES OF RETURN TO ACCORD PARTY COUNCILLORS

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has presented Certificates of Return to Messrs Aderibigbe Imoleayo Oluwafemi and Olamoyegun Simeon Segun of the Accord Party as Councillors for Ward F and Ward H respectively in Odi- Olowo/ Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area of the State.

The presentation is in compliance with the ruling of the Lagos State Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting at Ikeja, which ruled in favour of the duo.

Presenting the Certificates to the two Councillors, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olumide Lawal, commended the leadership of the Accord Party, the Councillors and their supporters for the confidence reposed in the judicial machinery set up by the State Government for prosecuting of election petitions, rather than resorting to self help.

Justice Phillips stated that the presentation of the certificates was in fulfilment of the pledge she made at various pre-election stakeholders meetings that the Commission would always uphold the rule of law and comply with any order given by any court of competent jurisdiction at any stage of the electoral process.

The Chairman appealed to the two Councillors to join hands with their colleagues to make life better for the people of their wards, stressing the need for elected political office holders to put service to the people first and make themselves accountable to the people so as to justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorate.

“If people who are elected to public office by the electorate actually diligently serve the citizenry, election management bodies including LASIEC, would have little or no cause to worry about voter apathy as many eligible voters would enthusiastically and willingly participate in the electoral process at National, State and Local Government levels,” she said.

She frowned at the attitude of some politicians who become elusive and inaccessible to the people once elected into office, thus alienating them from governance.

The Chairman revealed that 27 petitions were filed by different political parties and their candidates over disputes arising from July 22, 2017, Local Government elections conducted by the Commission, out of which two were determined in favour of the petitioners.