Nigeria’s democratic development demands INEC conduct of LG polls – lawmaker

Mr Mutiu Shadimu, Member, representing Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency of Lagos State, on Sunday said that conduct of council elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

Shadimu spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, following Saturday’s councillorship by-election in Ward B (Ogunoloko) in the area, and Ward B, (Dopemu) in Agege LGA of Lagos State.

“Although, there is no perfect situation anywhere, the best thing Nigeria can do is to remove local government elections from states’ control.

“It should be conducted by INEC for us to have free and fair elections.

“A situation whereby governors of states would want to have all the local governments under their armpits in order to do whatever they want, will not help the country.

“A situation where a political party will want to remain the only party running local governments cannot help us,” the PDP lawmaker said.

NAN reports that the Senate has approved INEC conduct of local government elections in its review of the 1999 Constitution.

NAN reports that Mrs Khadijat Jimoh, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the councillorship by-election, polled 2, 208 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Mr Olalekan Babafemi, who scored 343 votes.

Similarly, the candidate of APC, Mrs Rasheedat Adekunle, emerged winner of the councillorship by-election for Ward B (Dopemu) in Agege LGA.

Adekunle emerged winner after polling 980 votes to defeat MrAbdul- Rasheed Lawal of the PDP who got 480 votes and Lookman Afogunlowo of Accord Party who scored 288 votes.