Alleged Unjust Screening Tactics, Missing Documents by (LASIEC): Lagos PDP Calls for Transparency, Accountability or Face Legal Action
By Raheem Ibrahim
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has accused the State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) of alleged irregularities, unfair practices, and blatant administrative negligence being exhibited in the ongoing screening and validation exercise of its candidates.
It will be recalled that LASIEC commenced the validation exercise on Thursday, June 26th, 2025, for all parties’ candidates vying for election in the scheduled July 12 local government elections in Lagos State.
The process was scheduled to accommodate nine other political parties among the 12 political parties vying for elections on Thursday, 26th, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was scheduled for Friday, 27th; the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Saturday, 28th and Sunday, 29th of June; and the Labour Party (LP) was scheduled for Monday, June 30th, 2025, respectively.
The party, however, demanded the immediate recovery or production of the missing forms submitted by its members, a transparent and timely continuation of the screening exercise for all remaining members, and a formal explanation and apology from the Monitoring Commission regarding the mishandling of this process.
Failure to meet these demands within a reasonable timeframe will leave the party with no choice but to pursue legal action and seek judicial intervention to protect the rights and interests of its members.
According to the Secretary of Lagos State PDP, Hon. Soji Orioye, he alleged, “On Friday, June 27th, with the expectation of a structured and transparent exercise, a few of our members were screened, while others were directed to return with supporting documents. Many others were not attended to at all. We were made to understand that the process would continue on Monday, June 30th, 2025, giving hope to our members who had complied fully with the commission’s requirements.”
“Unfortunately, what transpired on Monday was a clear demonstration of disregard for due process and respect for the individuals involved. Our members, many of whom arrived early and waited in good faith, were left unattended for the entire day. It was not until approximately 9:00 PM—an inexcusable delay—that the commission made an attempt to begin screening. By then, the venue had descended into chaos and confusion, ultimately leading to a protest by our members, who rightfully expressed their frustration and discontent with the commission’s unprofessional conduct.”
“In the midst of these unacceptable delays and disorganization, a disturbing development has now emerged: LASIEC is claiming that several of our members’ forms are ‘missing’—forms which were duly submitted, acknowledged, and verified as part of the official process, and names of the candidates were conspicuously displayed on their notice board. We find this claim highly suspicious, unacceptable, and potentially fraudulent.”
“Let it be known that we will not tolerate any attempt to disenfranchise or disqualify our members through manipulative or deceptive means. The claim of missing documents is not only an insult to the integrity of our members, but a direct assault on the credibility of the entire validation exercise and the conduct of the July 12 elections,” he said.
It was also learnt that following the protest and a closed-door meeting between the commission and the State PDP Secretary, it was resolved that the affected members should return for screening on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025—an agreement reached in good faith.
While warning that the goodwill must not be mistaken for weakness or acceptance of malpractice, Hon. Soji urged all relevant stakeholders, oversight bodies, civil society organizations, and the general public to take note of these unfolding developments, saying, “The credibility of the entire validation process and the scheduled July 12 elections is now under question, and we will not stand by while our members are treated unfairly or denied their rightful participation.”
“We remain committed to justice, transparency, and accountability. Any further attempts to sabotage this process or intimidate our members will be met with stiff resistance, lawful protest, and all available legal remedies,” he remarked.
All efforts to get the LASIEC Chairman and PRO proved abortive, as our correspondent who visited the office was not allowed in by the security operatives at the gate, with the excuse that the place was overcrowded and the officers were all busy.
