Blame INEC for delay in LG elections – Lagos

The Lagos State Government says the Independent National Electoral Commission is responsible for its inability to conduct elections in the state’s local government areas.The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye, stated this on Monday in Alausa, Ikeja, adding that the elections might not be held until INEC fulfilled its part in the electoral process by releasing outstanding Permanent Voter Cards.He said, “I cannot say when the elections will be conducted. You will agree with me that since the last registration when INEC gave us PVCs, not all the PVCs were released. We still have some outstanding left with the commission.“There is no way the Lagos State Electoral Commission can conduct any election without having the appropriate voters register for the state. And this register is still in the custody of INEC; it has not been released to the state.“The moment it is released to the Lagos State Government, then we can start planning on when the local government elections will be held.”The commissioner also said the loss of the All Progressives Congress to the opposition party in some areas in the state was because money and ethnic politics played major parts.He said, “The allegation that lack of performance by former council chairmen led to the loss is not true. The last election was dictated and influenced by money politics. The main opposition party in the state brought a lot of money into Lagos.“They gave money to the people and also played ethnic card. One will notice that in the area where the APC lost, were areas dominated by people from certain part of the country.”Kuye said he believed the new government at the centre would put national interest above partisan politics and upgrade the status of the local council development areas in the state to full local government areas.Speaking on boundary dispute across the state, the commissioner said the dispute involving the Onilogboof Ilogbo-Eremi in Olorunda Local Council Development Area was resolved by the ministry.He also said the boundary disputes among Agege, Ikeja and Orile LGAs was being attended to by the ministry.