Alli Olugbenga, an All Progressives Congress agent, has expressed concern about incidences in which voters demanded money before voting in Lagos State’s local government elections on Saturday.
Olugbenga, who is stationed in Ward C of Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos state, told reporters that he encountered some residents who refused to visit polling stations until they were paid.
“They want me to pay them before they come out and vote. It’s wrong. It’s their civic right. They should not sell their vote. We’ve been going from house to house, begging people to come out, but many say they won’t vote unless they are ‘settled’,” he said.
At Polling Unit 028 in Ward C, where 106 voters are expected, only two had cast their votes as of mid-morning.
APC party agents had been calling known voters and waiting patiently since 8:00 a.m.
“We have called some people, and we are still waiting for them,” one agent said. Polling Unit 029, also in Ward C, had only six out of 160 registered voters by 11:33 a.m.
Despite the low turnout, officials hailed the process as smooth, with agents from various parties working together and voters acting appropriately.
However, a PDP agent expressed dismay with the disinterest.
“Everyone has been at home. Nobody is coming to vote. “I’m frustrated,” she explained.
As of lunchtime, only roughly 20 of the 928 electors at Polling Unit 015, also in Ward C, had voted.
An election official described the process as peaceful, but many citizens were hesitant to vote.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) is holding elections in 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in an effort to fill crucial grassroots leadership positions.
However, poor voter turnout remains a big worry, notably in Ikosi-Isheri and other sections of the Kosofe Local Government Area.
