APC releases guidelines for Lagos LG poll

Agency ReporterThe All Progressives Congress (APC) has released guidelines for aspirants contesting on its platform for Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in July 24 Local Government election in the state.The partys Caretaker Committee Chairman and the Caretaker Committee Secretary, Alhaji Tunde Balogun and Mr Lanre Ogunyemi respectively, made this known in the guidelines jointly signed on Monday,They said that it was the duty of the party to provide guidelines for its members seeking to contest election.They noted that the guidelines would without prejudice conform with the provisions of the partys constitution, the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Nigerian Constitution, the Lagos State Local Government (Administration) Law and Guidelines of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).The partys constitution prescribes that members name in the Register of Members shall be the prima facie evidence of valid registration as a member.Hence, the first requirement is that any aspirant on the platform of the party shall comply with this provision.The aspirant shall be a Nigerian citizen, registered member of the party, pays the prescribed fees and must not be a member of any other political party.All aspirants must submit the evidence of membership of the party, submit a demonstrable evidence of active party support and provide a portfolio of loyalty to the party and evidence of non-involvement in any anti-party activity, the party leaders said.They said that all aspirants must sign the partys code of conduct and only aspirant cleared by the screening committee shall be eligible to stand election at the partys primaries.According to the duo, every aspirant shall present for scrutiny all certificates that he or she laid claims to.They noted that the screening committee shall take into consideration full information on an aspirants background such as education, political experience, team spirit and reputation.They said that there shall be a five-man screening appeal committee which shall be responsible for hearing of all appeals arising from the screening committees report.The duo said that a disqualified aspirant might seek review of the screening committees decision by appealing to the State Caretaker Committee through the state caretaker chairman.According to them, there shall be a State Electoral Committee (SEC) for Chairmanship or Councillorship nomination and the LGA/LCDA Electoral Committee who must be persons of proven integrity.The state caretaker committee said that all accredited party members from the ward shall be entitled to vote in a direct primary system for aspirants of their choice.They said that sales and submission of party forms would hold between May 4 and May 11 while the screening of aspirants would start from May 13 and end on May 21.According to them, all appeals shall be heard from May 22 to May 26 while the primaries for Chairmanship and Councillorship aspirants would hold on May 29. (NAN)
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