The Youth Party has condemned what it described as acts of intimidation and unprofessionalism by officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) during a recent screening exercise for local government election candidates.

The party alleged that LASIEC commissioners engaged in aggressive conduct, including issuing arrest threats against candidates who questioned procedural discrepancies during the verification exercise. According to the party, the screening process was marred by an atmosphere of hostility and coercion, undermining democratic principles.

Chairmanship candidate for Eti Osa Local Government, Mr. Ayodele Adio, said the trouble began when LASIEC commissioners introduced new documentation requirements not previously communicated to candidates. These included mandatory presentation of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and original academic certificates for all 20 party nominees.

“These demands were not listed in the official letter of invitation sent to us. When we raised concerns about the sudden change in criteria, the commissioners responded with hostility. They began shouting and eventually called in police officers to intimidate us,” Mr. Adio told reporters.

He described the experience as deeply undemocratic and unacceptable. “If electoral officials can threaten arrest simply for asking legitimate questions about an opaque process, what hope is there for meaningful youth participation in governance?” he asked.

Mr. Adio further explained that the commissioners’ conduct extended beyond verbal intimidation, with threats made against vice chairmanship candidate Mr. David Oyebanji and councillorship aspirant Mr. Jamiu Ayinde, who were also present during the exercise.

Mr. Oyebanji corroborated Adio’s account, stating that the environment created by LASIEC officials was “aggressively hostile and procedurally unfair,” raising concerns about the impartiality of the commission ahead of the local government polls.

In response to the incident, the Youth Party has called for a public apology from LASIEC and the immediate commencement of an independent investigation into the conduct of the commissioners involved. The party is also demanding that disciplinary action be taken where appropriate.

“Democracy thrives on transparency and fairness,” the party said in a statement. “The actions of LASIEC officials run contrary to the values of open electoral participation and could discourage young, qualified Nigerians from seeking public office.”

The party further requested that LASIEC issue clear and publicly available written guidelines for all future screening exercises to prevent procedural ambiguity and restore public confidence in the commission’s neutrality.

Despite repeated calls for electoral reforms in Nigeria, this latest incident highlights ongoing concerns about administrative fairness, youth inclusion, and institutional accountability at the grassroots level.