The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has released the validated list of candidates contesting for chairmanship and councillorship positions in the upcoming July 12 local government elections.
The release follows days of public concern over the delay, as the commission had earlier stated in its April 17 election notice that the list would be published by July 1.
During a visit to LASIEC’s headquarters in Yaba on Thursday, the names of validated candidates were seen pasted on the commission’s notice board. Sources at the commission revealed that the list was initially released early Tuesday but was temporarily removed for several hours to protect it from being damaged by rainfall.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, LASIEC Chairperson Hon. Justice Ayotunde Phillips (Rtd), represented by the Permanent Chairperson, Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, attributed the delay to the failure of some candidates to submit required documents within the stipulated timeline.
“The list came out very early on Tuesday. The candidates themselves stalled the release of the list,” Okikiolu-Ighile said.
“For validation, we needed to see original documents because the candidates had already filled out forms and attached photocopies of their credentials, which the law mandates. But many of them failed to present their originals.”
Required documents include academic certificates, curriculum vitae, birth certificates, permanent voter cards (PVCs), political party membership cards, personal data forms signed before a commissioner of oaths or notary public, and sponsors’ PVCs—10 for councillorship aspirants and 20 for chairmanship aspirants.
The documentation process sparked controversy, with some stakeholders alleging that certain requirements—especially the sponsors’ voter cards—were aimed at disenfranchising specific candidates.
In the published list, several aspirants were marked as not validated due to incomplete documentation or failure to meet the stipulated requirements.
