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The International Press Centre (IPC), on Thursday organised a stakeholder’s post-election forum on the 2017 Lagos state local government election.
The programme, organised under the Strengthening Citizens’ Engagement Process (SCEEP) project implemented in Lagos by the IPC with the support of ACTIONAID Nigeria and the UKAID through the Department for International development (DFID) drew participants from the Local Government Areas and the civil society to the All Seasons Plaza venue at Ikeja, Lagos.
In his welcome address, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director of the IPC, urged stakeholders to express themselves as much as possible. He also highlighted the aims of the forum.
According to him, the aims were to strengthen the citizens’ engagement in the electoral process and review the inclusiveness of special groups such as women, young people and persons living with disabilities in the electoral process.
Arogundade, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Lagos Chapter, said concerning elections in Nigeria that “If we can get it right at the local level, we’ll get it right at the State and Federal levels.”
At the event, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode on Communities and Communication, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, in his goodwill address complained about voters’ apathy during the just concluded Local Government election in Lagos State.
Bamgbetan, a former Local Government Chairman stated that “There are more issues to voter apathy starting with citizens’ apathy in terms of interest in accountability of the government.”
Also present at the occasion were Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Chair of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Dr. Adewale Aderemi from the Political Science Department, Lagos State University, and representatives from six Local Government Areas in Lagos State including Somolu, Surulere, Amuwo-Odofin, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos Mainland, SCEEP partners from Imo, Akwa Ibom, Kano and Kaduna States, people living with disabilities and party representatives National Conscience Party, KOWA Party, and Accord.
Akiyode-Abiola in her presentation titled “Post analysis of Lagos State LG elections: Appraisal of Stakeholders’ involvement – the issues, gaps and prospects for improvement,” highlighted the observations of the TMG before, during and after the election. She stated that the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress sabotaged the pre-election debate organized by TMG.
She also decried the disenchantment and apathy demonstrated by voters during the elections, adding that “Citizens need to take interest in what happens around us for the benefit of future generations.” In her recommendation, she stated that political parties should strengthen internal democracy while encouraging the citizens to be more involved in political parties and participate during elections by voting.
Party representatives expressed their displeasure at the LG electoral process which held on 22nd July 2017, citing heavy downpour, voters’ apathy, and shrewd electoral officers as part of the unpleasant happenings of that day.
Publicity Secretary of the National Conscience Party, Mr. Seni Ajayi, claimed that “There was no election; rather an imposition and an overwhelming majority of voters were excluded from the election.” Mr. Victor Tegemba, representing KOWA party, reported that the election was free – free of violence because the manipulations were done in a matured way and in collaboration with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) officers.
Representing Dr. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine of the LASU Political Science department, Dr. Adewale Aderemi expressed his worries over the just concluded LG elections. In his words: “Citizens’ apathy pose a grave danger to democracy.” He also mentioned that “Security operatives colluding with party officials to perpetrate election fraud is a worrisome signpost.”
The event was concluded with the acknowledgment of people living with disabilities by the Director of IPC, Mr. Arogundade, emphasising the need to carry them along in the electoral processes.
