Desmond Elliot Urges Voter Participation in LG Polls.

Lagos lawmaker and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, has called on Lagosians to take local government elections seriously, stressing that citizens cannot expect meaningful development or assistance from leaders they fail to vote into power.

Speaking on Saturday after casting his vote in the local council polls at his polling unit in Surulere, Elliot lamented the low turnout of voters, describing it as disappointing and detrimental to grassroots development.

“You can’t keep complaining about your environment, refuse to vote, and then expect those in office to be accountable to you,” Elliot said. “If you don’t take part in choosing your leaders, you lose the right to demand good governance from them.”

The thespian turned lawmaker, who represents Surulere Constituency 1, emphasized that local government is the closest tier of government to the people and plays a crucial role in community development, waste management, primary health care, primary education and others.

He called on the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to do more in terms of voter education and logistics to ensure better participation in future elections.

Elliot also appealed to young Nigerians to stop parrying the ballot, but instead begin to see voting as a civic duty and not merely a political event. He added that active involvement at the grassroots level is essential for real democratic change.

Pointblanknews.com had earlier reported widespread voter apathy and public dissatisfaction with the electoral process, particularly over the conduct of LASIEC officials and the commission’s overall preparedness.