…Exercise largely peaceful
…Allegation of deliberate denial of materials trail election
…It is too dangerous to draw conclusion – APC chieftains
…Ruling party hopeful of landslide victory
The Local Government election in Lagos State which was held on Saturday across the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Area (LCDAs) was largely boycotted by many residents.
Experience in the 2023 general election may have been cited as part of the reason for the apathy.
In some parts of the state, the LAISEC officials were either not seen or they did not go to their locations with necessary materials; for this reason, many prospective voters were left stranded.
Election started late in Okota
In Okota voting started late at about 11am in several polling units. Youths were seen playing football on the streets and roads in the community.
Similar situation occurred in Alimosho, residents who spoke to BusinessDay in the council, said they refused to participate because the process was not transparent.
“Why should I vote when It is APC that would win. I am resting in my house,” Emeka Sunday, a trader, said.
Tope Amowu, a banker, called for the reforms in the conduct of council election process across the country to Nigeria’s democracy.
“This process is a mockery of our democracy, the officials came here 11am, what kind of thing is that? They even know who would win, so why bothering us?” he said.
In the polling unit in Ali Dada street, in another part of the council, voting did not commence till about 12pm.
Few eligible voters were seen waiting for the LASEIC officials.
A resident, Chuma Okafor said many residents who came out early hoping to cast their votes were disappointed with the late arrival of election materials.
“You can see there is no one here, this is about 11am, no officials insight, it is sad. I would just wait a little if they don’t come I would go back home. I just felt is my right to vote.”
Read also: LG poll: Sanwo-Olu commends peaceful polls, praises LASIEC
Low turnout in Ejigbo, Oshodi-Isolo
There was low turnout of eligible voters in most polling units in Ejigbo LCDA and in Oshodi-Isolo local government area.
Although election materials arrived at about 9am in most of the polling units in the council. The officials of the Lagos State Independence Electoral Commission LASEIC were sitting idle.
Most streets were deserted across the council, while few cars was seen on the roads with residents preferring to stay indoors.
Some residents are just sitting idle in front of their houses watching how things are unfolding.
BusinessDay check in Oshodi-Isolo local government area revealed that election material did not arrive early in most locations in the LGA. At about 10am, election officials and materials had not arrive in some wards.
In ward 005, polling 02 in Ailegun, Ejigbo, there was few people on the queue at 10-30am.
Speaking to BusinessDay, the presiding officer at the polling unit, Segun Ola, said they arrived at the polling unit at 9am, noting that he expect the election to be peaceful.
At another polling unit in the council, few voters were seen on queue at about 10:05 am, they were allowed to vote immediately after accreditation.
An agent of the All Progresssives Congress (APC), Shola Tola, said he hoped the residents would come out and vote.
The agent said the election has been peaceful so far in the polling unit.
“The election is peaceful here like you can see, people are voting, there is no problem here”, he said.
A Labour Party (LP) agent, Patricia Ibe said the exercise did not start on time, but has been peaceful so far.
She urge Lagosians to come out and exercise their franchise.
In polling unit 010, in the same ward 005, only about 6 people had voted at about 10:30am.
The streets were deserted and residents who spoken to BusinessDay said they are not interested in the exercise.
A resident, samson Omoh, said she would not bother herself since it was obvious the APC would win.
“What is the point in voting? You know APC candidates would win everything, I can’t waste my time”.
Read also: LG poll marred by low voter turnout, logistics challenges
Election peaceful – Ajomale, Johnson
Speaking on the exercise, a former member of House of Representatives in Oshodi-Isolo, Ganiyu Johnson decried the poor turnout of voters, he said the election may not reflect the strength of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State.
Johnson however, commended LASEIC, security agencies for their efforts, noting that despite late arrival of materials the election has been peaceful.
On speculation in sone quarters that the voters don’t trust the process, he said: “Nigerians won’t trust the process if our own internal democracy is faulty. They need to have confidence to participate.
“The state just passed an electoral law. They can draw their strength from that law. Let’s see what will happen in subsequent elections.”
On reports on lateness by LASIEC to set up at the appropriate time which is supposed to be 8am, the former lawmaker said: “There is still room for improvements. The commission should work on the issue of logistics. A lot of people were out to vote but LASIEC officials were not on ground.
“Some people went back to their homes. Even in my polling unit they were there at some minutes passed 11am. You can imagine that they were supposed to set up at 8am and at 12am they were not there.”
Similarly, former APC chairman in Lagos State, Henry Ajomale, told BusinessDay said despite the late arrival of materials, the election was peaceful across Okota.
Ajomale lamented voter apathy seen in the council election and called for converted effort by the state and federal government to check the trend.
“The election is peaceful as you can see, yes people are not coming out, it is normal and not new. You can see that here in Okota there is orderly without violence.
“Nigerians must realise that the LG election is crucial,” Ajomale said.
Jandor votes seeks citizens’ involvement in grassroots government
Abdul‑Azeez Olajide Adediran popular Jandor, the Lead Visioner of the Lagos4Lagos Movement has exercised his civic duty by casting his vote today in the Lagos State local government and councillorship election.
Turning out early this morning at his polling unit 01, Ward D in Irewe kingdom, Ojo Local Government area, jandor joined millions of Lagosians participating in the democratic process across the 13,325 polling units in 377 wards for the ongoing elections organized by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
Reflecting on the exercise, he emphasized the critical importance of grassroots representation in the delivery of good governance to the citizens.
“Today, I cast my vote not just for the candidates, but for the future of our communities. Local government is the closest government to the people, delivering essential services that impact everyday life, ” he said.
Adediran who had set up a self-funded Independent Campaign Group in support of all the APC candidates in the election across the 377 wards and 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas of the state, encourages all Lagosians to troop out enmass and vote the APC candidates.
He maintained that voting in local elections helps in holding the grassroots leaders accountable and give voice to the communities.
“This is a call to Lagosians, who are voting whether for the first time or as seasoned voters that your Permanent Voter’s Card is your tool of influence. Use it today to shape the future of your ward, Local Government Area and our beloved state.”
He commended the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo‑Olu and the State Commissioner of Police for their commitment towards ensuring transparent, peaceful, and safe voting environments.
Also voting in the same polling unit with Jandor were the former Deputy Governor of the State, Sarah Sosan, a former executive chairman of Ojo Local Government area of the state, Yinka Durosimi among other prominent APC leaders.
Read also: Late commencement, low turnout mar LGA poll in Lagos community
Election was seamless, peaceful – Taiwo, Ejigbo APC candidate
The candidate of the All Progresssives Congress in Ejigbo LCDA, Taoheed Taiwo commended the conduct of the election by LASEIC.
Speaking in an interview with BusinessDay, Taiwo said the exercise was peaceful in the council, while eligible voters turned out to vote the candidate of their choice.
Answering question on the low turnout in several polling units, the APC candidate stressed that voter apathy was not new in Nigeria, stressing that it was not in all polling units in the council that experienced low turnout of eligible voters.
“The election was peaceful and seamless here in Ejigbo as you can see, people came out to vote their candidates.
“I don’t know the area you monitored, in the polling unit where I voted, the officials arrived at about 9am and I voted. It is not as if it is hundred percent smooth, but the election still went well,” Taiwo said.
Speaking further, Taiwo said his priority would be to focus on infrastructure development in the council if he is declared the winner.
He promised that with his seven cardinal manifesto, he would focus on infastructure upgrade in the council, improve the health sector and improve the security network.
Taiwo also promised to secure the lives of residents, which according to him was the priority of any government.
“I would work to upgrade infastructure across the council, while improving the health sector” Taiwo said.
Election results too predictable, bad for democracy – Analysts
Political analysts say the predictability of the Lagos council election was bad for democracy in the country.
They noted that if the election was conducted in a free and fair manner, there was no reason why opposition candidates would not win one or two councils.
Reacting, Temitope Musowo, political analyst lamented that Lagos State was now a one-party state, which had made Saturday’s poll a mere formality, noting that the inability of the APC to tolerate opposition was a danger to democracy that Nigerians must resist.
Musowo further added that council poll would continue to be won and non competitive, until the exercise is taken away from states to organise and funding for the election is from independent source.
“There was no election, everyone knew APC would win everything so they can’t vote. It is bad for our democracy, Lagos is now purely one party state, the council election was already predictable.
“I hope this does not extend to national elections,” he said.
Similarly, Kunde Okunade, a political analyst, said the poll was not an election, but imposition of candidates on the people.
He called for the reform to the electoral system to allow independent body to conduct council election to guarantee good governance at the grassroots.
Situation in Amuwo Odofin
At polling unit 031 (201Road), Ward K, Amuwo-Odofin, the presiding officer, Fashola MO, apologized for their lateness and notified those on ground that election will close by 2pm and that every voter on the queue will be attended to till 3pm.
This was going on while other officials were setting up by 10am with just 10 voters waiting in queue to vote. Also, at the commencement of voting, only APC and LP agents were on ground to monitor proceedings.
On the same road, at polling unit 008 (201Road); the voting cubicle was fully set and ready for business of the day by 10am; however, there were only three voters waiting to cast their votes.
At polling unit 032 by 21 Road (C close) just setting up by 10:10am. However, polling unit 013 (21Road C close) with just about five voters on ground.
As at 10:15, polling unit 033 (officials were on ground but no voters with empty boxes.
The situation at the three polling units on I Close into 322 Road were the same with officials just waiting for the voters to come out.
But, the situation was slightly different at polling unit 1516, 21 Road (L Close) with more voters on ground but with little voting activities going on. Those on ground were seen chatting away.
However, polling unit 004 (111 Road D Close) had more voters compared to the other two polling units on the same road
By 11am, a team of Mobile Policemen were mobilized into Festac in about seven different vehicles to ensure security ahead of the collation of votes at the Secretariat later in the day.
Biola Shonibare, a resident of Festac Town, in the Amuwo-Odofin LGA told BusinessDay that many people were disenfranchised in her area; outside the voter apathy that mar the entire election process.
“My husband’s polling unit people didn’t show up at all. He went there four times; they kept telling him, they are on their way that they missed their way and went to 1st Avenue.
“Since morning till now they haven’t gotten to 201 from 1st Avenue and it’s almost 3pm.”
She also added that, “Unity estate no even see voting materials. 111 and 112 road no voting there too,” she stated.
However, a very funny experience was noticed at the First Gate area just in front of the Amuwo-Odofin Maternity and Child Centre, where someone identified as the chairman of the NURTW in the zone mobilised some young men and given voters card each.
Subsequently they were mobilized into Festac Town to vote. It was so brazenly carried out that the mobilizer also engaged somebody to video the process, probably as a prove for mobilising voters for the election.
However, the situation in Oriade LCDA slightly improved by 11am with more voters seen coming out to cast their votes.
However, the exercise was characterised by voters apathy just like previous local government elections.
Three of the five polling units (008, 010, 023, 024, 025) in front of the Oba Palace in Oriade LCDA by Moshalasi bus stop was a beehive of activities, indicating the interest of the community in the process.
