2019 election: INEC’ll be wasting resources conducting gov poll in all 36 states ―Lagos Commissioner

LAGOS State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, on Thursday said asking INEC to conduct the 2019 gubernatorial election in all the 36 states of the federation would amount to wasting the country’s resources, saying rather some political office holders who had performed in office could be returned unopposed through referendum.

Such referendum, according to Abdul-Lateef, who spoke at an end of the year forum organised by a group, ‘Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko’ Foundation in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state, by asking the residents if there was any reason for election.

Besides, such move would ensure that the affected governor would be able to work hard because he or she now knew that the social contract he signed with the citizen must be respected to the fullest.

The commissioner, in addition, said that the Federal Government could also save the country from violence associated with election by conducting such referendum in states where such performing office-holders were sighted, including Lagos,

He said Lagos was being included in the list because the state was yet to witness any aspirant indicating interest in the 2019 governorship poll, declaring that holding gubernatorial election in Lagos especially would amount to waste of the country’s resources.

Speaking further at the event organised to make yuletide celebration memorable for Lagosians, the commissioner lamented that over the years, the country had wasted resources conducting needless election in some parts of the country.

He said: “It is unnecessary to conduct election in the 36 states in 2019. And the reason is that we will be wasting Nigeria’s resources in conducting such poll. Some states do not need to conduct any election. And Lagos is included.

“The reason is that in those states that there is need for election, the aspirants have started indicating their interest. Also, aspirants for the Presidential election have also started making their stance known to the electorate.

“But for Lagos especially, we are yet to see anyone who has indicated its intention to contest for the governorship position. So conducting election in such state would result to waste of the country’s resources.”

The commissioner maintained that the Federal Government should spare the incumbents of the rigor of election in states where those incumbents had cutting edge over others, or where the electorates indicated that the incumbent should continue in office.

“We need to look at states where the incumbent has cutting edge advantages. Any state where the people can come together and decide that their governor should continue in office, such state should be spared of the rigor of going to the poll again.

“The Federal Government should conduct referendum on whether to conduct election in some states. Conducting in some states would lead to wasting resources.

“If we embark on such act, the governor will be able to work hard because he or she now knows that the social contract he signed with the citizen must be respected to the fullest,” he added.