Lagos state government announces restriction of movement for local council polls

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The Government of Lagos State, Nigeria is set to organize state elections into local council offices of chairmen and councilors this Saturday, 24th July, 2021. 

Hence, an order restricting movement by the public across the state has just been issued by the Honorable Commissioner for Information in the state, Gbenga Omotosho. 

Of all the 36 states of Nigeria, Lagos state has been one of the most faithful and regular in the conduct of state elections into local council offices. 

The following statement announcing the restriction is as released on the official website of the Lagos state government today:

The Lagos State Government has announced restriction of movement across the State between the hours of 8a.m and 3p.m on Saturday, 24th July, 2021.

The restriction is to enable the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) conduct hitch-free elections into positions of Chairmen and Councillors in all the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.

The restriction will facilitate the ease of movement of the electorate, election materials and LASIEC officials for the sanctity of the election, effective monitoring and enhanced security.

All eligible voters are urged to participate in the elections, which require the cooperation of all residents.

Gbenga Omotoso

Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy

Lagos LGA and LCDA Creation

As at 2003, there were only about 20 local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos state. But then-Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, created additional 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) backed by state law passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly. This move resulted in a protracted political fight between the governor and then-Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo who frowned deeply on the move. 

This was particularly so because the LCDAs also function as LGAs, meaning that they also obtain federal allocations to carry out developmental projects at the local tier of government. 

Election Hurdles

Lagos state local council elections have always been held as at when due, but this year 2021, the conduct of the election came under heavy legal tussle. 

#1

11 political parties took legal action asking the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, to halt the scheduled local government election in Lagos State, due to the failure of the Lagos State Independent Election Commission (LASIEC) to register them for the election, according to The Punch. 

#2

All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship aspirant Raheem Rasaki Alani asked the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court to suspend the local government election in the state scheduled for July 24, but the court turned down his request in its July 19th ruling reported by Premium Times. 

According to Premium Times, Mr Alani sought, among other thing, an order of the court restraining INEC from making the register for Lagos’ 20 Local Government Areas (LGA) available for the election. He argued that LASIEC ought to conduct the election in accordance with the 20 “constitutionally-recognized” LGAs in Lagos, and not based on the 57 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) created by the state.

But despite these and many more legal hurdles, the election is set to go ahead this Saturday as announced by the state government through the Information Commissioner, Gbenga Omotosho earlier today. 

Paul Anunaso is the editor of The Paul Anunaso Blog, based in Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a civil/structural engineer with a passion to inspire positive civic engagement for the advancement of democracy in Africa.