By Patrick Idowu
Saturday’s local government and council polls in Lagos State were marred by widespread voter apathy and logistical failures, with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), facing sharp criticism over late deployment of electoral materials.
Across key areas such as Abule Egba, Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye, and Ikeja, polling units recorded poor turnout as residents largely shunned the election.
By mid-morning, many polling centers remained empty, with few or no voters in sight.
LASIEC officials arrived late at several locations, with ballot papers not reaching some polling units until after 10:00 a.m., despite the official 8:00 a.m. start time.
At President Bola Tinubu’s polling unit on Sunday Adigun Street in Ikeja, materials arrived around 10:20 a.m., although a handful of voters waited patiently.
In other areas such as Ikeja Bus Stop, Allen Roundabout, and Alausa, LASIEC staff confirmed they were still awaiting materials well past the scheduled start. Some officials were seen idling or sleeping due to inactivity at polling stations.
Similar reports emerged from Ikorodu and other parts of the state, where apathy and disillusionment were evident.
Several residents cited lack of trust in the electoral process, alleging that the results were already predetermined in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Responding to the widespread delays, LASIEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Tope Ojo, said the commission was working to resolve the issues and ensure timely delivery of materials to the affected areas.
