Numerous opposition groups in Lagos have demanded that Saturday’s local government elections be canceled, calling them rigged and dishonest.
Lagos’ opposition parties, which have denounced the local government elections held last Saturday as rigged and manipulated, include the Accord Party, African Action Congress (AAC), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Labour Party (LP), and Action People’s Congress (APP).
During a joint press briefing, the Forum of Lagos PDP Local Government Chairmen also declared their intention to contest the results in court, alleging that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) had undermined democracy by denying opposition candidates the right to vote.
Speaking at the conference, LP Chairman Pastor Dayo Ekong, represented by her deputy Mr. Olasupo Ajayi, stated: “The recently concluded Local Government elections were a carefully planned, well-executed charade intended only to impose the ruling party’s will upon the people of Lagos. They were not an exercise in democratic choice. We saw and recorded numerous anomalies that LASIEC had planned.
She stated: “We categorically reject the fraudulent results declared by LASIEC in the affected LGAs.” For this tragedy and the total breakdown of LASIEC’s legitimacy throughout her tenure, we personally blame Justice Bola Ighile.
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We are steadfast in our resolve. We are gathering copious proof of these crimes. To stop this electoral robbery, we will pursue all available legal and constitutional options. Until justice is done and Lagos residents’ will is honored, we won’t stop. Ekong promised legal action, saying, “The Labour Party will not allow this daylight robbery to stay unchecked.
Olusegun Mobolaji of the YPP also voiced his disapproval of the procedure.
There were several abnormalities and inconsistencies in the procedure that resulted in this poll; the schedule itself was inconsistent, tiresome, choppy, and intolerable for the opposing parties. Because of certain problems, certain parties received nomination forms from LASIEC two days prior to the election. How can we give such an election legitimacy?
After complaining about the APP’s emblem being removed from the vote papers, Mrs. Abiola Adeyemi, the State Chairperson of the APP, claimed she was intimidated and barely avoided being attacked by suspected APC thugs in Badagry.
Furthermore, Mr. Dele Oladeji, the chairman of the Accord Party, stated that “LASIEC acted as election players, not as umpires.” We ran against LASIEC. Before election day, a systematic rigging was planned.
PDP leader in Oshodi-Isolo and Forum Chairman Chief Adegboyega Adegbesan rejected the election results as invalid.
There was no election on Saturday. The people’s sovereign will was being violated by a criminal plot and a sham. Large-scale vote box stuffing took place in PDP strongholds throughout the state. Bags of pre-thumbprinted ballots were delivered.
Additionally, he charged LASIEC with intentional logistical errors.
“To annoy PDP supporters and lower turnout, election materials arrived late or not at all in many areas, and documentation was purposefully incomplete,” he said.
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