By Sodiq Adelakun
Despite appeals from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urging residents to participate in Saturday’s local government elections, voter turnout remained dismal across Lagos as of 10:10 a.m., with many polling units deserted and electoral officers arriving late.
At Polling Unit 29, near the Federal Service Club on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, it was observed that only one party agent was present at 8:51 a.m., while officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) were nowhere to be found.
In Obalende, youths took advantage of the restriction on movement, converting roads into football fields before security operatives dismantled makeshift goalposts around 9:15 a.m.
While LASIEC officials began setting up polling units at Odo Street and Igbo Street, no voters were on ground as of the time of filing this report, raising fears of widespread voter apathy.
At Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Ward E3, Adeniji Adele, a small group of supporters waited for his arrival to cast his ballot at 10:00 a.m., while armed police officers maintained a heavy security presence.
The elections are being conducted to fill 57 chairmanship, 57 vice chairmanship, and 376 councillorship seats across Lagos’ 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Voting is scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., with provisions for voters in line at closing time to still cast their votes.
Despite LASIEC’s assurances of a credible and well-organised poll, the first few hours were marked by low civic engagement, logistical hitches, and delayed distribution of electoral materials in several areas.
