Ambode to LASIEC: Live above board, be fair to all

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday, swore in the chairman and members of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), charging them to live above board and be fair to all parties in the discharge of their duties.

Ambode gave the charge  during the swearing-in ceremony at the Lagos House, Ikeja, saying the new chairman, Justice Ayotunde Philips (retd) and other members of the commission were carefully selected based on their track record of meritorious services and unquestionable integrity.

The new LASIEC boss, Philips, assured that the commission under her would do all within its powers to ensure credible, free and fair elections, promising that her tenure would witness the transformation of LASIEC to an institution that would be envied and emulated by other states of the federation.

Speaking further, the governor said his administration places high premium on the rule of law, just as he vowed that the executive arm of government would not do anything to directly or indirectly interfere in the affairs of the commission.

He said LASIEC, as the statutory body saddled with the responsibility of conducting local government elections, had a critical role to play in entrenching the democratic process in the state, and therefore, the newly sworn-in members must go all out to ensure the credibility of the electoral process.

“We have painstakingly selected people of unquestionable integrity and track record of competence to guarantee a credible, transparent and accountable process. Leading this team is Justice Philips, a retired chief judge of Lagos State, who left a record of meritorious service that saw her to the pinnacle of the Lagos State judiciary.

“All I just want to say to all the members is that they must live above board and truly live up to the public expectation as independent umpires. You must be transparent and fair to all without giving undue advantage to one party over another. This is only way that you can guarantee the credibility of the process you supervise,” the governor said.