What You Need To Know About Lagos APC Local Government Poll | AgegePulse Magazine

  

All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the guidelines for aspirants contesting in its party for Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in the state’s forthcoming election which will be held on Saturday, July 24.

The party’s Caretaker Committee Chairman and the Caretaker Committee Secretary, Alhaji Tunde Balogun and Lanre Ogunyemi respectively, who made this known in the guidelines jointly signed on Monday, said that it was the duty of the party to provide guidelines for its members seeking to contest the election.

They noted that the guidelines would without prejudice conform with the provisions of the party’s constitution, the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Nigerian Constitution, the Lagos State Local Government (Administration) Law and Guidelines of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

“The party’s constitution prescribes that member’s name in the Register of Members shall be the prima facie evidence of valid registration as a member.

“Hence, the first requirement is that any aspirant on the platform of the party shall comply with this provision.

“The aspirant shall be a Nigerian citizen, registered member of the party, pays the prescribed fees and must not be a member of any other political party.

“All aspirants must submit the evidence of membership of the party, submit a demonstrable evidence of active party support and provide a portfolio of loyalty to the party and evidence of non-involvement in any anti-party activity,” the party leaders said.

According to them, all aspirants must sign the party’s code of conduct and the only aspirant cleared by the screening committee shall be eligible to stand election at the party’s primaries.

They added that every aspirant shall be present for scrutiny of all certificates that he or she laid claims to, noting that the screening committee shall take into consideration full information on an aspirant’s background such as education, political experience, team spirit and reputation.

They said that there shall be a five-man screening appeal committee that will be responsible for hearing of all appeals arising from the screening committee’s report.

The duo said that a disqualified aspirant might seek review of the screening committee’s decision by appealing to the State Caretaker Committee through the state caretaker chairman.

There shall be a State Electoral Committee (SEC) for Chairmanship or Councillorship nomination and the LGA/LCDA Electoral Committee who must be persons of proven integrity, they added.

The state caretaker committee said that all accredited party members from the ward shall be entitled to vote in a direct primary system for aspirants of their choice.

They said that sales and submission of party forms would hold between May 4 and May 11 while the screening of aspirants would start from May 13 and end on May 21.

According to them, all appeals shall be heard from May 22 to May 26 while the primaries for Chairmanship and Councillorship aspirants would hold on May 29.

The forms are expected to be purchased in the format below...

CHAIRMANSHIP: 

MALE: N2 million + (50,000 admin fee)

FEMALE: N1 million +  (50,000 admin fee)

 COUNCILLORSHIP: 

MALE: N500,000 + (50,000 admin fee)

FEMALE: N250,000 +  (50,000 admin fee)

YOUTH UNDER 40 YEARS AND BELOW:                      50%  +  (50,000 admin fee)

The party stated further that there shall not be a separate fee for Vice-Chairman.

As part of its goal to carry everyone along, the form is free for physically challenged aspirants, but he/she shall pay an administrative fee of N50, 000 for Chairmanship and N5,000 for Councillorship aspirants respectively.

Amotekun: Guideline On How outfit will operate in Southwest states

AgegePulse Magazine

 Robert Egbe


DETAILS of the operational guideline of the Southwest security outfit, Operation Amotekun, has emerged.

According to the draft bill for the security outfit which is before state legislatures, obtained by The Nation, a governing board with sweeping powers will oversee the security outfit in each of the states.



But the day-to-day activity will be run by the Amotekun corps commander, to be appointed by the governor.

It is a uniform bill that will be passed by each of the six states of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti legislatures.

The Operation Amotekun in each of the states will work as separate entities unlike the planned regional structure.

However, they will collaborate with one another, sharing intelligence and meeting quarterly or as decided, to secure the region.

A section of the bill states that the commander “will hold meeting with the counterpart in other states in the region on a quarterly basis or as may be collectively determined by the corps commander in those states.



The bill adds that the functions of the security agency include collaborating with and assisting the Police and other security network agencies in gathering information about crime and maintaining law and order.

It shall also have powers of arrest and prosecution of persons suspected or involved in kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling, cultism, highway robbery and other criminal activities.

Its day and night patrol will cover all major roads, remote areas, hinterland, forests and inland waterways in the region.

The Amotekun Corps shall have the power to bear licensed arms subject to the approval of the inspector general of Police.

The bill also states that Operation Amotekun shall have power to identify, arrest and register offenders, but such suspects must be “promptly handed over to the nearest police station or post.”

They will also be empowered to disarm unauthorised persons in possession of arms and other dangerous weapons.


Section 19 of the bill stated that all Nigerians with integrity, irrespective of their ethnic group, are eligible to join Amotekun, provided they are without criminal record and are endorsed by local authorities.

The bill also provides for the establishment of an Independent Corps Compliants Board comprised of three members, including a chairman who should be a retired judge or magistrate.

The board shall have power to investigate complaints against the operations of the security outfit.

The funding of the security outfit shall be through subvention from the state governments, gifts and donations from individuals and corporate bodies and any other money or property, which may in any way became payable to or vested in the agency.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, said yesterday.

“The gist of the bill is that it establishes a security network agency with a board and in Section 3 of it, it specifically allows for the contiguous states within the Southwest to collaborate with each other. So, this bill is to enable the Southwest governors to deliver on their constitutional responsibilities under Section 4 of the 1999 constitutional that imposes the obligation for the protection of lives and property, not only on the federal government but for the state and local government.

“So, we have a situation where these network is established to complement the police and security agencies in the light of the insecurity incidence, not only in the Southwest, but all over Nigeria. It must be noted that the primary obligation for policing in the constitution is vested in the Nigeria Police,  but there are also constitutional obligations imposed on the state and government at the local level to ensure security or lives and property and this is what is taking place. It is a complementary Security network outfit.

“The laws allow for collaborations between the zonal and state commanders of each state. For instance, Oyo State Commander can collaborate with the Osun State Commander and of course, that can also extend to all the six Southwest states, if there is a common threat that arises within the zone.

On arms bearing, the Commissioner for Justice said: “There is a provision in the Amotekun law that is in compliance with the extant laws in Nigeria to bear arms and that is the seeking the President’s permit. So, you can’t bear arms without permit.”