The Lagos State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has announced its decision to boycott the forthcoming Local Government Elections.
It cited widespread irregularities, legal violations, and a blatant disregard for democratic principles by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
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In a statement issued on Wednesday by the State Chairperson, Mrs. Ronnie Dikko-Kila, the NNPP said the decision had been approved by the party’s national leadership.
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According to her, the credibility and fairness of the electoral process had been severely compromised, making meaningful participation impossible.
“We have observed with profound dismay the systematic undermining of democratic principles in the run-up to these elections,” Dikko-Kila stated.
“Our decision to boycott is not taken lightly, but it is a necessary stand against an electoral system built to disenfranchise rather than empower the people of Lagos.”
The party expressed deep concern over LASIEC’s decision to conduct elections not only in the 20 constitutionally recognized Local Government Areas (LGAs) but also in an additional 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), which the Supreme Court does not recognize for independent elections.
NNPP argued that this move was illegal and in direct violation of Nigeria’s highest judicial authority.
In addition, the NNPP condemned the imposition of what it called exorbitant and unjustifiable nomination fees.
Candidates are required to pay ₦150,000 for Chairmanship, ₦75,000 for Vice Chairmanship, and ₦50,000 for Councillorship forms — a policy the party says creates an unfair financial barrier and discourages true grassroots democracy, even though LASIEC claims there are exemptions for women and persons with disabilities.
Furthermore, the party criticized the entire electoral process for its lack of transparency and fairness, highlighting an ongoing dispute between LASIEC and political parties under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) over the published election guidelines and nomination fees.
This, NNPP said, had created an atmosphere of distrust and signals that the outcome of the elections was already predetermined in favour of the ruling party.
“We cannot, in good conscience, participate in a process that lacks credibility and is designed to produce a pre-orchestrated outcome,” the party declared.
It claimed that “To do so would be a disservice to our members and to the people of Lagos State.”
The NNPP added that it would instead launch a robust public awareness campaign to draw attention to these irregularities and push for electoral reforms that ensure fairness, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
The party called on civil society organizations, international observers, and all Nigerians who care about democracy to take note of these concerns and join the call for electoral integrity.
“NNPP remains firmly committed to the democratic process and will continue to advocate for credible and representative elections in Lagos State and throughout Nigeria,” the statement said.
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