Ahead of the forthcoming council elections skated for Saturday, July 22, 2017, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has directed all candidates for the elections to sign an undertaking, pledging orderly conduct before, during and after the polls.
The chairman of the commission, Retired Justice Ayotunde Phillips, said a “Memorandum of Understanding” would be signed at the commission’s head office tomorrow, Monday, July 17, 2017.
In a statement signed on her behalf by Mr Oladapo Olatunde, Director of Public Affairs of the commission, Justice Phillips said the commitment from candidates was necessary to ensure that the polls were free of violence.
Justice Philips expressed concern over the high level of acrimony in the political environment ahead of the polls.
However, she assured that the commission would do everything possible to check any threat to the peaceful conduct of the elections.
Meanwhile, Justice Philips urged leaders of political parties and candidates to conduct themselves peacefully during the election.
“You should purge yourselves of the do -or-die mentality that has been the bane of the nation’s democratic adventure,” she said.
She further concluded that the commission had enlisted the support of security agencies to ensure hitch-free polls.
Recall that Justice Phillips exclusively told InsideMainland that Temporary Voters Card (TVC) will not be used in the forthcoming elections. Rather, only voters with Permanent Voters Card (PVC) will be allowed to exercise their franchise during the polls.
