Low turn out of voters on Saturday marked the Local Government election in Lagos, reports the News Agency of Nigeria.
NAN reports that there was low turnout of voters in many polling units visited in Badagry, Alimosho, Epe, Mushin and Odi-Olowo Local Government Councils.
At the Awhajigoh Ward C in Badagry, the electoral officers, who arrived at 8. 20 a.m, wearing face masks and gloves, came with two bottles of sanitisers, urging the voters to observe the COVID-19 guidelines.
A voter in Awhajigoh Ward, Mr Monday Avoseh, said the low turnout was due to the voter apathy in the Badagry Area.
According to Avoseh, voters should come out before 3 p.m to cast their votes.
At Ajara-topa Ward C, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, the lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said that it was not too late for voters to cast their votes.
Also, at Polling Unit 038A, Baruwa Road, Ward 07, Ipaja North in Aliomosho Local Government 03, the election commenced at about 9.30 a.m.
The officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) arrived at the centre around 8.30 a.m, while election materials were delivered at about 9.05 a.m.
APC Party Agent, Mr Ahmed Baruwa, told NAN that the election commenced at the centre at 9.30 a.m.
Baruwa explained that voters had started casting their votes but the card readers were have been functioning well.
“The card reader has not been working since the election started, so the LASEIC officials have resorted to using the voters list to verify with the information on the voter card, so that voters can vote,” he said.
The APC party representative expressed worry about the poor turnout of voters for the election.
“The turnout is poor and less impressive but since the election has just started, we are hopeful that the situation will improve before the end of the election,” he said.
PDP Party Agent at the ward, Mrs Arike Oni, said although the election had started, she could not give an account of the process because she just came.
A voter, Mrs Folake Bewaji, lauded the process of the election so far, as it had been smooth and peaceful.
Bewaji said since the election had started, one should not conclude that the turnout is low until the end of the election.
“The election has just started, maybe people thought that there will be a crowd, so they are taking their time.
“Likewise, I also thought that there will be a crowd, so I stayed back until I saw people who left to vote, coming back almost immediately, so I decided to come and cast my vote.
“This situation is normal when it comes to elections, she said.
Meanwhile, the LASIEC officials at the polling units refused to speak with NAN but confirmed that they got to the centre at about 8.30 a.m.
Voters were seen in few numbers at the centre and other centres around, while the COVID-19 and social distancing protocols were enforced by the security personnel.
THE PUNCH
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