By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
An All Progressives Congress group, the Progressive Group for Democracy, has urged President Bola Tinubu and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to discourage any serving Local Government chairmen in the state from seeking a third term in office.
They specifically cited the case of Agbado Oke-Odo and the Ikosi Isheri local council development areas, where they alleged that the current chairmen were attempting to contest again after two terms in office.
The group’s National Coordinator, Aladesanmi Abiodun Salawu, held a news conference in Abuja yesterday and argued that their actions were contrary to the provisions of the constitutions of Nigeria and Lagos State.
Salawu said, “These individuals who assumed office following the death of elected chairpersons are now attempting to perpetuate themselves in power beyond the constitutional limit. Let me be crystal clear. This is Third Term again disguised as a legal technicality.
“The Fourth Alteration Bill No. 16, signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018, leaves no room for ambiguity.
“Once you’ve taken an oath of office after succeeding a deceased officeholder, and then contest and win another term, you cannot seek a third term.
“The Nigerian Constitution is supreme over all other laws, including the Lagos State Local Government Administration Law. Section 7 of our Constitution guarantees democratically elected local government councils.
“It is not subject to manipulation by political opportunists seeking to domesticate themselves in power. As a pro-democracy group, we are reminded of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fierce opposition to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term agenda.
“President Tinubu stood firmly against constitutional manipulation then. Where is the President’s voice now? It would be very disastrous to maintain a deafening silence while your political base becomes the laboratory for testing unconstitutional tenure elongation.
“This precedent should not be set for Nigeria’s democracy. Governor Sanwo-Olu, as the chief security officer of Lagos State, also has a constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law. His silence on this matter is not just concerning – it is complicity!
“The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) must equally demonstrate true independence by immediately disqualifying all candidates seeking an unconstitutional third term.
“Failure to do so will confirm what many already suspect – that it is merely an extension of the ruling political establishment.”
He noted that the recent council elections in some parts of the north-west region were conducted with reasonable adherence to electoral laws.
“Is Lagos, the so-called ‘Centre of Excellence,’ now becoming a centre of constitutional violations,” the queried.
He asked President Tinubu to reject this third-term agenda publicly in the Lagos local councils.
He equally urged the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, to issue an immediate advisory on term limits for local government administrations.
He also asked LASIEC to disqualify all candidates seeking an unconstitutional third term.
He said, “These individuals in Agbado Oke-Odo and Ikosi Isheri LCDAs must withdraw their candidacy immediately. We are not making a request; we are stating what the Constitution already mandates!
“The Lagos Society for Good Governance will utilise every legal means available to challenge this dangerous precedent.
“We will mobilise civil society organisations, approach the courts, and exercise our constitutional right to peaceful protest if necessary.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport. The people of Lagos must rise before this constitutional virus spreads across Nigeria,” he added.
