COMMUNIQUE PRESENTED AT THE END OF A 3-DAY PRE

ELECTION RETREAT ORGANISED BY LAGOS STATE INDEPENDENT

PREAMBLE
Upon the release of the guidelines of 2025 Local Council Elections by the
Commission on Saturday 12th April, 2025, the Commission organized a 3-day Pre
Election retreat with the aim of enhancing electoral integrity and a credible Local
Council Elections. Participants at the retreat include the Chairman of the
Commission, Hon Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (rtd.), members of the Commission
which include: Mr. Samson Olusegun Ajibade, Dr. Olumide Metilelu, Chief Akin
Durojaiye Oluwo, Mr Abeeb Aileru Dapo, Hon. Adekanye Oladele, the Permanent
Secretary, Mr. Abdul- Rafiu Omowole Fashola, Management Staff, Electoral and
Assistant Electoral Officers.
The retreat had the following aims and objectives:
1. To provide a comprehensive assessment of the past local council elections in
Lagos State,
2. To identify the present relevant legislations and policies guiding the conduct
of elections,
3. To scrutinize the electoral calendar with a view to ensuring strict adherence
to it,
4. To identify strategic relevant stakeholders and their roles and
responsibilities,
5. To determine the necessary logistics for the elections including engagement
of ad-hoc staff, monitors and observers.
After an extensive presentation of papers by the facilitators, the following
observation and recommendations were agreed upon by the participants;
 It was observed that an electoral calendar conveys the range and sequence of
an EMB’s activities such as issuance of notice of elections, publication of
election guidelines, electioneering campaign and conduct of political
 primaries period etc. in order to meet its statutory and administrative
deadlines.
 It was agreed that to ensure the integrity of an electoral calendar several
factors such as sensitivity to weather conditions, religious or statutory dates,
vulnerable people and PWDs must be considered.
 It was also agreed that the EMB must adhere strictly to the timeframes and
details of the election calendar.
 It was observed that election stakeholders include individuals and
institutions which are determinants of election results. They can be
categorized into primary, secondary and tertiary stakeholders.
 In the review of previous local council elections in Lagos state, it was
suggested that LASIEC should improve on these identified gaps such as the
late amendments to relevant sections of the LASIEC law, late and
inadequate recruitment of ad-hoc staff, delayed payment of ad-hoc staff, etc.
 It was observed that the Commission’s improvement from manual
recruitment in Y2017 to online recruitment in Y2021, replacement of
obsolete aluminum ballot boxes in Y2011 to collapsible ballot boxes in
Y2017, etc. has progressively improved the conduct of elections, and it
should be sustained or improved upon.
 Participants agreed that the knowledge and strict adherence to all relevant
and enabling laws such as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (as amended), LASIEC law 2008 (as amended), etc. by election
officials will enhance the conduct of local council elections in Lagos State.
 The Commission was also enjoined to lobby the legislature to continue the
constant review of the law so as to conduct elections according to
international best practices.
 Participants considered the legal frameworks and best practices for Election
Observers and Monitors to enhance accountability, fairness and public
confidence in the electoral process, and observed that Election Observers are
meant to be seen but not heard in the election process. It was also discovered
that Election Monitors are groups of persons who know the rudiments of
electoral process, and are mobilized by the Commission to monitor and
make specific inputs and contributions in an electoral process
 It was also agreed that Supervisors are a creation of the EMB’s and in most
cases permanent staff of the EMB who work hand- in- hand with the
commission should be mobilized to observe local and international election
 as a form of Long Term Observations (LTO) will further enhance the
achievement of the value chain of election observation.
 Participants also agreed that EMB has the prerogative to accredit, provide
rules and regulations, prepare a checklist for reportage and de-accredit non-
compliant Election Observers.
 It was also agreed that strict adherence to international benchmark for
credible elections such as regulation of political party finance, election
officials’ professionalism, political competition and result management, the
Commission would achieve the conduct of free, fair and credible Local
Council Elections in Lagos State.
 The retreat resolved that LASIEC should display full Financial, Operational,
Administrative and Personnel autonomy, in order to ensure institutional
memory and sustainability.
 The retreat agreed that the Commission should cascade training plans for all
Election Officials, ensure the training is linked to recruitment for effective
deployment, with adequate contingency (back-up ad-hoc personnel).
 It was also resolved that the Commission should develop an attractive
training manual for election officials, if possible to provide alternative online
refresher courses for election officials.
 Participants agreed that the Commission should ensure regular interface with
the media on crisis management using conventional methods to ensure
information integrity.
 The forum concluded that for institutional capacity building and in order to
decentralize election operations, the Commission should leverage on in-
house expertise, and prioritize research and documentation for continuous
learning.
 It was also resolved that the Commission should identify gaps in critical
areas where technology can enhance optimal performance and improve voter
experience such as polling units mapping with GIS on a laptop for easy
access. However, the technology to be used must be tested, secured,
transparent and auditable.
 Participants also resolved that the Commission should train election officials
on reverse logistics with priority checks to guide its operationalization such
as ascertaining the number and quality of materials, return in components,
repairs, replacements or recycling.
  The training agreed that a dedicated officer for reserve logistics should be
recruited and trained in order to ensure its success in alignment with the
sustainable development goals (SDG) sixteen (16).
 The retreat x-rayed the lessons from recurring issues at the local government
election petition tribunals and observed that common causes of litigations
include: non-qualification of candidates, corrupt practices, candidate validly
nominated but unlawfully excluded, improper completion of election result
forms etc.
 The forum considered a case study that was filed after the Y2021 elections,
where a petitioner accused the Commission of not declaring a councillorship
result at the ward collation centre in accordance with the law. It was
observed that the Commission did that due to security challenges, and the
court ruled against the Commission. The retreat observed and agreed that to
prevent reoccurrence, adequate security should be ensured at the ward
collation centres as are always provided at the local government collation
centres.
 In examining another case study of election petition after the Y2021
elections, where a candidate alleged that he was unlawfully excluded due to
the removal of his party logo. Upon verification by the Commission and its
legal team, it was discovered that the party logo submitted by the petitioner
was different from that obtained at the INEC office, it was thereafter agreed
that LASIEC should subsequently check the logos with care and invite
political parties to verify their party logo and accent to it, since the court
ruled in favor of the Commission.
Thank you.

HODONU, Olusegun Emmanuel Rapporteur