Lagos High Court orders conduct of LGA elections in Lagos State within 30 days following NCP’s suit over the legality of caretaker committees
The court declared as unconstitutional the appointment of caretaker committees over the administration of local government councils in the state.
Justice Abdulfatal Lawal made the pronouncement in a judgment delivered in a case filed by National Conscience Party challenging the legality of a practice where caretaker committees were appointed to administer the affairs of local governments.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, had contended that such a practice was contrary to the provisions of sections 1(2) and 7 of the 1999 Constitution.
The plaintiff sought an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to supply voters register to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission for the purpose of conducting elections at the local government levels.
The applicant further sought a mandamus order compelling LAISEC to forthwith conduct local government elections in Lagos State and to declare the caretaker committees as illegal.
In granting the plaintiff’s prayers on Friday, Justice Lawal declared the Lagos State Local Government law, which allowed for the appointment of caretaker committees over administration of LGAs as illegal and unconstitutional.
The court rejected the argument of LAISEC that it was waiting for voters register from INEC since the same voters register and polling booths were used for the April 2015 elections.
Consequently, the judge directed LASIEC to conduct elections in all local governments within 30 days.
He held, “I call upon the Lagos State Government to immediately implement the judgment of the court by dismantling all the illegal structures of local government caretaker committees
“I also call upon all state governments where the local governments are being manned by administrators to conduct elections immediately.