LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Reports have emerged that less than 20 per cent of registered voters in many parts of Lagos eventually turned out for accreditation during the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state.
This is against the ‘impressive’ average of 60 per cent of registered voters that stormed various polling centres to exercise their civic rights during the presidential elections held a fortnight ago in the state.
This indication emerged during the tour of various polling centres and wards in the Lagos which the media embarked on in company of the Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Akin Orebiyi.
In all the centres visited, which included Maryland and various parts of Ikeja, Mushin and Yaba, among others, the turnout of registered voters was very low.
For instance at various centres in Maryland, the number of registered voters who had come out for accreditation was established to be less than 30 percent, while the situation appeared to be worse at Mushin, where less than 20 per cent of registered voters was recorded.
The development may not be unconnected with news of possible violence which had spread through the state like a wild fire hours before the exercise, a situation that prompted many residents to opt to stay steer clear of polling booths.
The supporters of the two main gladiator political parties in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have reportedly been at daggers drawn as they tried to outwit one other in the build up to the exercise.
Checks by Sunday Tribune in Ketu, Alimosho, Aboru, Agbado Oke LCDA and Ogudu Ojota revealed that there was general voter apathy to the extent that some staff of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) had to resort to pleading with people to come out and vote.
According to our correspondent in Ketu, accreditation began early in some areas but was however slowed down by faulty card readers which were later sorted out.
It was also gathered that many Igbos did not go out to vote during yesterday’s election as a protest towards the statement edly attributed to the Oba of Lagos on who to vote for between the candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Akinwumi Ambode and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje.
Going round the Egbeda, Egbe/Idimu, Agege and other constituencies in Alimosho, many Igbos were seen entertaining themselves in total disregard of the election.
Also at the 027A Polling Unit, Ward 05-Ilado /Eti-Osa Abraham Adesanya Housing Estate with a large number of Igbo people living there, a low turn out with 999 total registered voters.
Though the early morning accreditation process was peaceful in most areas, there was a panic at Ogudu Ward G, when policemen shot into the air, to dispel thugs who claimed that some ballot boxes were missing.
Peace was however restored when the issue was settled and people trickled out to get accredited.
There also reported cases of ballot box snatching in some Local Governments Epe and Eti-Osa. while gunshots were also reportedly heard in some parts of Yaba.
Confirming the development, the Executive Chairman of Epe local government area of Lagos State, Hon. Ahmed Seriki, also alleged that there were reported cases of ballot boxes snatching at Ibeju Lekki area of the state.
“We received a report from Ibeju Lekki that ballot boxes were snatched from INEC officials. I’m trying to get in touch with the Area Commander, to ensure that police gets there to keep peace, because we learnt that some thugs snatched ballot boxes from INEC officials, to prevent them from going to their polling units. This can lead to chaos in that area; that’s why I’m alerting the police,” he said.
But the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, commended the high level of compliance in the state.
Though he admitted that there was a report of ballot box snatching at Eti-Osa, he debunked reports that there was crisis in Ogudu.
He therefore encouraged voters to comport themselves well so as to have a peaceful polls.
In a related development, The Lagos Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Mr Akin Orebiyi, has attributed the largely improved voting exercise in Lagos to the commission’s self-assessment of its activities in the last elections.
“The reality on the ground is that there had been a bit of improvement. We did a proper self-assessment of our performance the last time and we have taken note of where we didn’t do well.
“In terms of arrival at polling units, there has been a remarkable improvement this morning. As early as 6:30 am, I started receiving phone calls notifying me of arrivals at several of the polling units,” he said.
He said in at least 95 per cent of the 8,462 polling units across the state, INEC officials arrived on time and accreditation was also able to start on time.
“The main challenge we had in a number of places had been, again, the smart card readers. This was anticipated. What we have done is to train more technical people who will go out and find solutions to them.
“On the whole, if you compare the number of smart card readers that have derived fault with the total number of 12,131 that we have deployed to all the voting points in Lagos State, it would be a very small number,” he said.
Credit: Tribune
