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By Oscar Okhifo
The Lagos State local Government Election on Saturday was marred by low voter turnout and the absence or late arrival of materials and officials of the State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) in several polling units, especially across Oshodi and Ikeja areas.
Despite a scheduled 8:00 a.m. commencement, reports from multiple polling stations in Ikeja, including PU 025 on Olanrewaju/Oregun Junction and PU 047 on Sunday Adigun Street (Ward F), indicated that LASIEC staff arrived late or were not present at all in the early hours of the exercise.
In parts of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, including Isolo and Mafoluku, voters also lamented the absence of electoral officials and voting materials as of 10 a.m, forcing many to leave their polling units in frustration.
Some residents reportedly made repeated visits to their polling centres without finding any LASIEC presence.
“We’ve been here since past eight and no LASIEC official has shown up. People are getting tired and leaving. Is this how they want us to participate in democracy?” said Mrs. Bisi Adeyemi, a voter at PU 025 in Oregun Junction, Ikeja.
Another voter in same Polling Unit, Madam Abisoye Sulaimon said she was tired and hungry. “I was one of the earliest arrivals. We are still here. No one has even come to explain to us what is happening. This country is getting worst by the day” she said.
The situation was not unique to Oshodi and Ikeja. Across other parts of the state, such as Ikotun, Igando, Iba, and Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, residents were left stranded with no electoral officials or clear information on when voting would commence.
At Ward D in Orile, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, only four of 77 registered voters had cast their ballots by 10:35 a.m.
“I tried to vote but the officials never arrived. Some of us even called the councillor, and he couldn’t explain what was going on. This is very discouraging,” said Jubril Hassan, a first-time voter in Oshodi-Isolo.
Malam Salisu Hassan at Oshodi-Isolo had no kind words either. He believes the country is on steady retrogression. “The more they promise improvement, the more they perform poorly. This is a bad omen . Ordinary LGA election, they’ve failed again. Wallahi 2027 will be worst” he said in Hausa.
Voters also decried poor communication and inadequate signage at some polling units, which forced residents to contact ward councillors or party agents to locate their centres. Some LASIEC officials reportedly spent the night stranded at local secretariats without proper deployment instructions or allowances.
“As of 10 a.m., only four people had voted in our unit. The turnout is terrible, and many voters didn’t even get their PVCs. LASIEC didn’t do enough sensitisation,” said Tunde Oladele, a party agent in Ward D, Orile, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA.
Adding to the disenchantment was the widespread issue of disenfranchisement due to uncollected or misplaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Many residents expressed frustration at being unable to participate in the poll despite earlier attempts to register.
Civic observers also raised concerns over the integrity of the process.
“The lateness of officials and materials and missing materials in some cases are clear signs of poor coordination. This doesn’t inspire confidence in local governance,” said Ngozi Okafor, an observer with the Centre for Civic Inclusion.
The low turnout contradicted the optimism expressed by LASIEC Chairperson, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd.), who had earlier stated that over 13,000 polling units were upped from 8,000 in the 2021 council polls and had had been activated fully to encourage participation and reduce voter apathy.
As voting is likely to continue in some areas later in the day, stakeholders and observers called for urgent reforms in the administration of local elections in Lagos and across the country citing the recurring lapses in logistics, voter engagement, and transparency. Will there be process improvement before end of voting? Time will tell.