The Lagos State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has announced its intention to challenge the results of the recently conducted local government elections in the state, citing widespread electoral malpractices and irregularities.
The Chairperson of the party in Lagos State, Pastor Dayo Ekong, made this declaration during a news conference held at the party's secretariat on Friday in Lagos.
Ekong emphasized that the party would not remain silent about the alleged electoral irregularities witnessed during the July 12 elections conducted by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship positions.
The elections resulted in the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning all 57 chairmanship seats and 375 of the 376 councillorship positions contested.
"The Lagos council elections were not democratic. They were a descent into darkness, designed to subvert the people's will," Ekong stated. "It was not a contest of ideas, but a blatant attack on the electoral process and democratic norms."
She further emphasized, "These irregularities were not glitches; they were deliberate tools used to suppress the electorate and distort the outcome."
Alleged Electoral Malpractices
According to the LP chairperson, the party's legal team is currently compiling evidence to support their case. She listed several alleged malpractices including voter inducement, thuggery, fake accreditation, ballot stuffing, disenfranchisement, and missing party logos at polling units.
Ekong claimed she personally witnessed these issues in Eti-Osa, Amuwo-Odofin, and Ajeromi council areas, alongside reports from other local councils. She also mentioned the absence of election officials and materials at several polling centers across the state.
Call for Electoral Reform
The LP chairperson advocated for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), suggesting that their functions should be transferred to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
"The entire process and outcome shows that the system requires a total overhaul for fairness and credibility," she stated, urging the National Assembly to protect grassroots democracy as SIECs were allegedly undermining local governance and democratic integrity.
The Labour Party has vowed to use all legal and peaceful means to challenge what Ekong described as a "sham election," calling on the judiciary to meet the demands of justice.
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