The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has assured political parties that it will ensure the credible conduct of the July 12 local government election.

The commission’s chairman, Mobolanle Okikiola-Ighile, gave the assurance during a meeting with representatives of registered political parties in Lagos on Tuesday.

LASIEC announced on Friday that July 12 would be the election date in 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs).

Ms Okikiola-Ighile also pledged a level playing field for each political party before and during the election and sought their support for the exercise.

“Nobody among us is a card-carrying member of any political party. Let us be nice to ourselves. We are not your opponent; we are working for the betterment of this election.

“We are prepared, we are working, we have sworn an oath, and we are going to stick to the oath,” Ms Okikiola-Ighile said.

The LASIEC boss, while speaking on the election guidelines, encouraged political parties and aspirants to strictly follow the electoral timetable and the guidelines.

She said political parties must visit the LASIEC headquarters to obtain nomination forms, adding that they would pay administrative fees for processing the nomination of their respective candidates.

Ms Okikiola-Ighile, however, stated that female candidates were to pay half of the administrative fees.

She said the details of the revenue code and agency code for the payment would be stated in the guidelines. Also, verification of candidates’ documents will take place at the commission’s headquarters.

The LASIEC boss said the election guidelines would be published on April 17, while campaigns and rallies would start on April 18 and end on July 9.

“Political parties are to submit details of their party agents between June 23 and June 28. The political parties are to give verifiable party secretariat addresses to the commission,” she added.

Meanwhile, Temilola Akinade, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) chairperson in Lagos State, has expressed displeasure over the council’s neglect by the new LASIEC board.

Ms Akinade said the commission erred in how it released the election notice without the contributions of IPAC and other critical stakeholders.

According to her, important issues remain unresolved as regards the appropriate interpretation of the Supreme Court’s pronouncements on LG autonomy and how that will impact the 37 LCDAs established by the state government.

Ayinde Olawale of the African Action Congress (AAC) said the party would not participate in any local government election recognising the 37 LCDAs in the state.

Dele Oladeji, the state chairman of the Accord Party, urged the new board to always carry political parties along in the process.

Other party leaders took turns to express displeasure over the revised LASIEC law empowering the agency to conduct executive elections into 57 LGs/LCDAs, without the knowledge of stakeholders.

They said many political parties had yet to access the new law, stating that such critical legislation should be in the public domain.

Responding, the LASIEC boss said she could not meet IPAC earlier due to the huge workload and the need to put things right.

She explained that the law requires the commission to meet with IPAC only before the release of guidelines.

“The commission regards and respects IPAC and political parties a lot. The issue of guidelines is why we called for this critical stakeholders meeting to have your input,” she said.

Representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, Youth Party (YP) and Action Democratic Party (ADP) attended the meeting.

Representatives of the  All Peoples  Party (APP), New Nigeria People’s Parry (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were also present.

(NAN)