PDP Faults Lagos Council Polls Preparations

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has in Abuja criticised the apparent lack of transparency in the process leading to the last local Government Elections in Lagos State and accused the Lagos state Independent National Electoral Commission (LASIEC) of lack of fairness in handling the process.

The PDP position which is contained in a statement issued by the Party’s National Secretariat and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali strongly expressed the party’s reservations over what it considers “the shabby preparations” by the LASIEC for the last Saturday Local Government Elections.

It states in part: “We are particularly concerned about the inherent lack of transparency in the rocess, especially the decision by LASIEC not to count the votes at the polling centres. This decision negates the principles of fairness and gives legitimate cause to doubt the integrity of the entire process.

“We join all well meaning Lagosians in expressing fears that the results of the elections may have been pre-determined. We, however, urge all our members in Lagos State to use all legitimate means to ensure that every vote counts and the will of the people duly expressed.

“ We also wish to urge our members to be law abiding and resist the provocations from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to take the law into their hands.

“The whole world is awaiting the outcome of this exercise, especially against the background of the ACN’s self righteous pontifications, pretentious and pugnacious propaganda on Party discipline and internal democracy”.

Justus Awaji, Abuja