The local government and councilorship political race that was held in Lagos on Saturday saw a poor turnout of citizens as just a modest bunch of individuals were at polling units to elect their gathering LG and council leader.
At a few polling units, electoral authorities, security officials, and party agents lamented the absence of voters in the election.
Voters strolled into polling units in ones and twos to cast their votes. No queue was observed at the polling units as a result of low turnout.
Several Lagos residents opened for business on Saturday, with many seen at different bus stops trying to commute from one part of the state to another. This is despite the movement restriction announced by the state government.
Youth and children also took to the streets playing football and riding bicycles among other fun activities.
Voter Indifference
At Agege, Ikeja, Mushin, and Ifako-Ijaiye areas, there was a low turnout, except for few polling units where there was a relatively decent turnout.
It can be noted that the extensive indifference was largely due to the recognized weakness of the opposition parties.
Many voters were uninterested in the voting process, saying the “outcome of the election is already known.”
Also at Ikorodu, Kosofe, and some parts of Shomolu LGAs, voters deserted polling units with only a handful of votes cast as of 1 p.m.
A voter, Usman Salisu, attributed the poor turnout to the hardship being experienced by the people.
“Let us say the truth, we don’t really see the work of these local government chairmen. People don’t feel their impacts. Also, the votes we have been casting all these years, what is the benefit? I can’t blame anyone that doesn’t come out,” he said.
A similar situation was recorded at Apapa, Surulere, Lagos Mainland, and Lagos Island LGAs.
The extensive tedium as some polling units had less than 20 percent of the registered voters coming in to vote at different times.
Meanwhile, in a statement by Yiaga Africa, observers reported that voters were absent in many polling units.
“As observed, there was reasonable compliance with the no-movement directive of the state government, however, voter turnout was abysmally low across the LGA’s/LCDA with voters absent in some polling units as of 11am,” the statement reads.
The election was generally peaceful with many polling units recording zero to low disturbance.
Ada Peter
