With just two days to go before the Lagos State Local Council election, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has called for the postponement of the poll, due to the state’s failure to implement the Local Government Administrative Law.

The group, which made this call during a peaceful protest staged at the Lagos State House of Assembly premises, expressed deep concerns and unequivocal opposition to the delay in implementing the law signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on May 7, 2025.

The CHSR President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, who commended the executive arm for enacting the critical law aimed at improving the framework of local governance in Lagos State, expressed concern on what it termed unconstitutional decision to defer its implementation until August 4, 2025, a date conveniently set after the scheduled Local Council election on July 12, 2025.

“This calculated delay is not only unjustifiable, but also undermines the spirit and letter of the Constitution, as well as democratic norms Lagos State has always prided itself on upholding,” he said.

According to him, a law takes effect upon assent, saying that it is a well-established legal principle that a law becomes effective from the date of assent unless expressly stated otherwise within the law itself.

“In this case, the Administrative Law signed by the Governor carries no clause deferring its commencement. As such, any attempt to delay its implementation post-assent is legally questionable and tantamount to executive overreach.

“The delay appears engineered to protect political interests in select LGAs, notably Oto-Awori LCDA and Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, which would be directly impacted by immediate enforcement.

“Such preferential treatment erodes public trust, casts a shadow over the upcoming elections, and poses a grave threat to electoral fairness and constitutional equity. Allowing a law to be suspended arbitrarily for political convenience sets a dangerous precedent and may encourage future governments to subvert the legislative process to suit narrow interests. It is not only anti-democratic but also an affront to the rule of law.

“Delaying the law’s effect introduces legal ambiguity into the July 12 elections and risks post-election litigations, contestation, and instability that could further polarise the polity and tarnish the image of Lagos State as a model of good governance.

“The group then called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to uphold the sanctity of the legislative process by issuing a formal position affirming the law’s effective date as May 7, 2025.”

Continuing, Omotehinse said the House should prevent any executive action that could constitute a breach of legislative integrity and disenfranchise citizens under the guise of political strategy.

“We demand that once the tenure of the current Council Chairman expires, a caretaker committee be put in place to run the day-to-day affairs of the local councils and LCDAs in the state.

“We urge the Honourable Speaker and the Lagos State House of Assembly not to allow political expediency to override the principles of justice, transparency, and equity.

“Failure to implement the law as duly signed is a violation of the public trust, and we shall not hesitate to escalate our advocacy to national and international levels if urgent corrective steps are not taken,” they said.

One of the lawmakers, Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe Constituency 1, who spoke on behalf of the House of Assembly, assured the group that the legislative arm will do what is right. He added that their demand is duly noted and will be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for attention.

“The House has received your petition and will look into the issues raised,” he said.