Some concerned stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC), have appealed to the party, to ensure that local government chairmen who have served two terms in office do not run in the forthcoming council election in Lagos State.
The air preceding the primaries election for the local government exercise in the state, has been of disgruntlement, over the screening and clearance of some incumbent chairmen who have served two terms already and are still seeking another four years in office.
The stakeholders argued that the decision of the party to allow such council chairmen, to run again despite having served as vice chair for six years and another six years as chairman, will give such aspirants an undue advantage over others.
“Naturally to be sworn in for one term as per our constitution implies that the person should occupy the position for 4 years, as one term is naturally 4 years.
Also, the maximum number of terms any executive president, governor or chairman can be sworn in is twice which makes it a total maximum of 8 years in office,” a stakeholder said.
“How can any executive president, governor or chairman be sworn in to spend 10years in the same office.
This is a constitutional aberration that can’t stand.”
More so, local and foreign election observers are worried over the development, expressing fears that the process might not be fair in Nigeria’s Centre of Excellence.
Controversy started when the APC in Lagos State decided to adopt indirect primary for the local government election, as against the direct, which would have afforded party members the opportunity to choose their flagbearers in the council election.
In indirect election, only party executives in each local government who were appointed by council chairmen, some of who are seeking fresh terms, will determine the APC candidates in the election.
The example of incumbent chairman of Ikosi-Isheri, Samiat Abolanle Bada is one that is causing brouhaha as she was first sworn in as vice chairman in 2011 to 2014 which she completed.
She was sworn in a second time as vice chairman in 2017 to 2021, however due to the demise of the chairman who died in January 2020, she was then sworn in for the first time as the executive chairman in 2020 to 2021
She was sworn in a second time as executive chairman in 2021 to 2025.
Currently she has spent almost 6 years in the executive position this implies that an additional 4 years will bring the total number of years spent in an executive position to almost 10 years which is constitutionally wrong.
Stakeholders argued that an Executive position is not the same as a legislative position where there is no time limit.
“With the foregoing it will be wrong for our great party to consider the nomination of the out going chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA”.
