From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Progressive Group for Democracy (PGD) has raised alarm over what it described as an unconstitutional attempt at tenure elongation in two local council development areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the group’s national coordinator, Aladesanmi Abiodun Salawu, disclosed that some individuals who are currently seeking a third term in Agbado Oke-Odo and Ikosi Isheri LCDAs are violating constitutional provisions because they have completed their lawful terms
The group said these individuals initially assumed office following the deaths of elected chairpersons and later contested and won a full term and therefore, cannot be seeking another.
Speaking further, the coordinator called on President Bola Tinubu, who famously opposed the third term bid under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to speak out against what he termed “constitutional manipulation” in Lagos.
Salawu said: “In Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA and Ikosi Isheri LCDA, we are witnessing a calculated attempt to normalise constitutional violations through the backdoor. These individuals who assumed office following the death of elected chairpersons are now attempting to perpetuate themselves in power beyond the constitutional limit.
“Let me be crystal clear: This is a second term agenda disguised as legal technicality.
“The Fourth Alteration Bill No. 16 signed by former President Buhari in 2018 leaves no room for ambiguity. Once you’ve taken an oath of office after succeeding a deceased officeholder, and then contested and won another term, you cannot seek a third term.
“The Nigerian Constitution is supreme over all other laws, including the Lagos State Local Government Administration Law. Section 7 of our Constitution guarantees democratically elected local government councils. It is not subject to manipulation by political opportunists seeking to domesticate themselves in power.
“As a pro-democracy group, we are reminded of President Tinubu’s fierce opposition to Obasanjo’s third term agenda. He stood firmly against constitutional manipulation then. Where is the President’s voice now?
“It would be very disastrous to maintain a deafening silence while your political base becomes the laboratory for testing unconstitutional tenure elongation. This precedent should not be set for Nigeria’s democracy.”
Salawu also criticised the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), and urged them to uphold the rule of law. He called for the immediate disqualification of candidates attempting to contest for a third term and warned that silence from key state actors could be seen as complicity.