By ADEYEMI ADELEYE

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State has faulted the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) on the release of guidelines for the 2025 Local Government election in the state.

IPAC, in a statement jointly issued by its Chairperson, Mrs. Temilade Akinade, and its Public Relations Officer, Mr. George Ashiru, on Saturday, said the Commission erred in the way it released the guidelines.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LASIEC had on Friday, announced July 12 as the date for the election in 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

Reacting, IPAC, the umbrella body of all 19 registered political parties in the state, said LASIEC disregarded established communication protocols in the release of the guidelines.

The Council critcized the commission for not engaging with political parties on important issues on the election, prior to releasing the guidelines.

IPAC also accused LASEIC of shrouding so many things about the election in secrecy.

The council said: “Critical questions and 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.

“IPAC only recently learned that a revised LASIEC law empowering the agency to conduct executive elections into 57 LG/LCDAs was approved on Jan. 9 and signed into law on Jan. 10 by the governor.

“This took IPAC by surprise. Such critical legislation should be in the public domain. The information was not made public on any platform and copies of the new law are yet to be made available to IPAC for distribution to political parties”

The council said the new LASIEC board, led by Retired Justice Mobolanle Okikiola-Ighinle, had not done much to foster a transparent relationship between the commission and IPAC or provide a platform for the council to make input on plans for the election.

According to IPAC, the new board has only met with representatives of political parties once since January and that the meeting was at the request of IPAC.

IPAC said LASEIC should have called a series of meetings with political parties to properly explain the provisions of the new law as they affect the election.

“LASIEC has a lot to learn from INEC in Lagos State about the need for continuous engagement, communication, and transparency in order to have a smooth, free and fair election.

“The constant late release of guidelines close to when the electoral cycle begins and the lack of continued engagement with the political parties is an error.

“This will make political parties and their members to misinterpret the actions of LASIEC as driving in the direction of a predetermined outcome. (NAN)