LAGOS, JULY 27, 2016 – The National Coalition for Good Governance (NACOGG), has called on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, to ensure the immediate removal of sole administrators of local governments and conduct elections.
This is contained in a statement by the Convener of NACOGG, Mr Toyin Raheem, on Wednesday in Lagos.
Raheem said that NACOGG would picket the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) should election be delayed.
He said there should not be any vacuum in local council, adding that the group would resort to protest.
“It (protest) will only end when the governor, through the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission announces the date of the election and withdraw the sole administrators.
“Among the actions to be taken are peaceful protests to Lagos State Governor’s office, Lagos State House of Assembly, APC State Secretariat and National Human Rights Commission Lagos office.
“Others include picketing of LASIEC and all the 57 Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos state,’’ he said.
Raheem said the appointment of sole administrators to run the affairs of local government council was not only unconstitutional but a contempt of court of competent jurisdiction which nullified the out-gone caretaker committees and ordered the immediate conduct of elections.
He said that Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was clear on how the affairs of local government councils should be managed.
Raheem added that the words of the constitution must be followed to the letter.
NACOGG is an umbrella of Human Rights bodies like Leadership of Campaign for Democracy and Justice, Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (CCHR), Committee for Citizens Rights and Peoples’ advocates.
Others are: Centre for Rights of People with Disability, Committee for the Rights of Electorate and Committee for Worker’s Rights, Real Change Agents of Lagos State, Committee for Action against Impurity, Nigerians Arise and Citizens Council.
