The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, confirmed Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s four nominees for appointment as members of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the confirmation came after the nominees were screened by the lawmakers.
The nominees are Dr Bunmi Omosehinde, Mr Lateef Raji, Mrs Toyin Ibrahim-Famakinwa and Mr Olusegun Ayedun.
Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the House, described them as the crop of capable people who could take the body to a higher level.
“There is hardly any one of them that is not known; I am conversant with them.
‘’They have integrity and honesty to further strengthen our democracy.
“They are all competent, they are more than capable,” the speaker said.
In his own contribution, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Wasiu Eshinokun-Sani said: “With their experiences, I have no doubt that LASIEC will be better.”
Mr Yinka Ogundimu, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, urged the nominees to be unbiased umpires.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Muyiwa Jimoh, said the nominees would not disappoint the House and the commission.
However, Mr Jude Idimogu, an opposition lawmaker on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asked whether the nominees were card-carrying members of any political party.
Idimogu (Oshodi/Isolo II) said members of the commission should not be biased so as to strengthen democracy.
Reacting to Idimogu’s question, the speaker said that it was of no use asking whether the nominees had political affiliation or not.
He said that law that established LASEIC stated that nominees must be screened by members of the state House of the Assembly and if found worthy, confirmed for the position they were nominated for.
Other members of the House extolled the quality and competence of the nominees and asked the House to allow them ” take a bow and go’’.
The House also approved Ambode’s request to remove Mr Moshood Amele, a member of the commission, due to his ill-health.
Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Segun Abiru, to convey the approval of the House to the governor.
