• LASIEC declares readiness for election, urges voter participation
• Lagos Police Command assures peace, re-adjusts vehicular movement
• Oba Akiolu urges residents to participate peacefully, shun violence
• Monarch says Coalition will not defeat Tinubu in 2027

Ahead of tomorrow’s council elections in Lagos State, opposition parties have raised concerns over the credibility of the exercise, alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is plotting violence and voter intimidation in opposition strongholds.

But in a swift response, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, dismissed the allegations, accusing the opposition of shirking their responsibilities and resorting to baseless outcries to whip up sentiments.

Oladejo said the ruling party had been the only one campaigning over the months while other parties that are now raising the alarm did nothing to woo the voters.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) reaffirmed its preparedness for tomorrow’s elections during a media briefing yesterday, covering the 20 local councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

Chairman of LASIEC, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, assured residents of robust electoral preparations and urged citizens to participate actively in the exercise.

Besides, she gave the assurance that detailed security arrangements had been finalised in collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

She, therefore, called on candidates to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold democratic principles, warning that the commission remains non-partisan and will not condone any form of electoral malpractice.

Special emphasis, she noted, was placed on inclusivity for women, youths, and the PWDs.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Philip Aivoji, while expressing discontent over the elections, alleged that many of the party’s candidates were deliberately excluded from the screening process, casting doubt on the commission’s neutrality.

Also, the Youth Party’s Chairmanship candidate for Eti-Osa Local Council, Ayodele Adio, described LASIEC’s handling of the election as chaotic and unprofessional.

In the same vein, the Chairman of Lagos AAC, Ayoyinka Oni, echoed the concerns, describing the process as “terrible, stressful, and poorly managed.”

He accused LASIEC of issuing unilateral guidelines, disregarding Supreme Court judgments, and treating opposition candidates unfairly during validation.

Both parties expressed zero confidence in the electoral body and vowed to challenge any irregular outcomes legally.

Meanwhile, the Lagos Police Command has assured the electorate of adequate security, urging them to participate in the polls without fear, as necessary measures are in place to prevent any form of violence.

Also, the Command has adjusted the previously announced restriction of vehicular and waterways movement for the election.

The police said the vehicular movement would now commence at 6:00 a.m. and end at 3:00.p.m on election day and not from 3:00.a.m as earlier announced.

The Command urged Lagos residents to cooperate with security agencies, remain vigilant, and report suspicious activities via emergency lines: 08063299264 or 08065154338.

RELATEDLY, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has appealed to residents of the state to be of good behaviour, participate peacefully in tomorrow’s local council elections and shun violence.

Akiolu, who gave the advice, yesterday, when leaders of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria paid a visit to his palace to inform him about the church’s 100 years in Nigeria anniversary and invite him to be part of the celebration, urged the religious leaders to pray for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

He also said that politicians do not fight or quarrel but only disagree, urging the residents not to make themselves available as tools to be used to cause crisis.

The monarch was very optimistic that the election would turn out well, saying that he is for all and not against any.

He insisted that he does not see chaos from the election as he wants to be very positive, imploring all residents to participate in the election by being law-abiding and playing by the rules guiding the election.

Besides, he enjoined all stakeholders in the election to take it easy and pray that the election goes well.

Oba Akiolu thanked the clerics for coming to inform and invite him to the 100th anniversary of the church, promising that the whitecap chiefs would fully represent the palace during the celebration.

He also implored them to continue to pray for the country and for Tinubu to get re-elected.

According to him, he has no doubt Tinubu would win the next presidential election despite the opposition and coalition against his re-election bid.

Also speaking, Archbishop Apanishile Olufemi said they decided to carry along the monarch as the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, founded in Lagos 100 years ago, is celebrating its centenary anniversary.

According to him, the church has lined up a lot of activities to mark the anniversary and it will be celebrated by the church across the country.