The group revealed that it filed a court action on 25th November 2024 at the Lagos High Court in Ikeja against the Governor and the House of Assembly.
The Registered Trustees of the Secure World and Liberty Initiative have called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to urgently screen members of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) appointed by Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu six months ago.
In a press statement jointly signed by Barrister Kayode Mogbojuri, Comrade Mark Adebayo and Prince Adefemi Omoniyi for the Registered Trustees of Secure World and Liberty Initiative, the group emphasised that the Assembly’s failure to act threatens democracy at the grassroots.
Speaking on the matter, the group revealed that it filed a court action on 25th November 2024 at the Lagos High Court in Ikeja against the Governor and the House of Assembly.
“Our action seeks to compel the Lagos State House of Assembly to discharge its constitutional duty of screening members of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC),” they stated.
The group highlighted that local government councils are vital for delivering basic services and fostering participatory democracy.
However, they lamented that the failure to screen LASIEC members has stalled local government elections, violating Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. “This delay is a constitutional aberration and an affront to the principles of democracy,” they added.
Expressing concerns about potential abuse of power, the group noted, “Elections are the lifeblood of democracy. When elections are supplanted, democracy is undermined, and the door is opened to arbitrariness and abuse of power.”
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa was accused of orchestrating this delay to allow the appointment of administrative officers to manage Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) illegally. The group described this as “a calculated move designed to create a vacuum” in violation of constitutional provisions.
Referencing a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the independence of local government councils, the group called on Lagos State to comply.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly must understand that its constitutional and legal duties are not optional. Its inaction amounts to dereliction of duty and a betrayal of public trust,” the statement read.
The group also warned of the broader implications of the impasse, noting that the absence of properly constituted election bodies undermines governance and service delivery. “The people of Lagos State deserve better,” they declared.
Secure World urged civil society organisations, the media, and Nigerians to hold the Lagos State Government accountable. “This is not just about Lagos; it is about the future of democratic governance in Nigeria,” they stated.
Concluding, the group reiterated its demand, “We urge the Lagos State House of Assembly to rise to the occasion and screen the LASIEC appointees without further delay. Democracy at the grassroots level must not be compromised.”