The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode not to copy his Osun state counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, who it said refused to conduct council poll in the state in the last six years.
The party said that the appointment of sole administrators to manage the local governments of Lagos State on Monday was unconstitutional, adding that Ambode was not serious about his promise to conduct council poll in the state.
The party said Ambode should have allowed the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission to announce the date for the council poll rather than use delay tactics.
The PDP said using sole administrators to head the councils was contrary to section 7 of the 1999 Constitution which made the provision for only democratically elected persons to manage the councils.
“We are not convinced that the forthcoming council poll in Lagos would be free, fair and credible considering Ambode’s control and manipulation of the electoral process.
“Ambode must not imitate Aregbesola. Lagos cannot imitate Osun State where there has been no council poll since he assumed power in 2010. Ambode is adopting various excuses to frustrate democracy at that level,” the PDP said in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Gani Taofik, on Monday.
The party said the Lagos State chapter of the APC could not demand that the council poll be conducted because it had no structure to win at the grass roots.
“These newly appointed sole administrators are all active card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress and have the singular assignment of using the council funds to support all APC candidates in their areas of control.
“This is unfortunate and a big threat to our democracy. Owing to this observation, we are not sure of free, fair, credible council election,” the PDP said.
