By Adeyemi Adeleye/Idris Olukoya
Party agents participating in the ongoing councillorship by-elections in Somolu Local Government Area and Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Tuesday commended the peaceful and transparent conduct of the exercise despite low voter turnout.
The agents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at various polling units, said voting commenced smoothly and electoral officials discharged their duties professionally.
NAN reports that the by-elections were conducted by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to fill vacant councillorship seats in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA and Somolu Local Government Area.
The commission said the exercise became necessary to ensure continued democratic representation and effective grassroots governance following the demise of councillors representing the affected wards.
The affected wards are Ward C (Orimedu I) in Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Ward H (Kayode/Fadeyi) in Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA and Ward F (Bajulaiye) in Somolu LGA.
At Polling Units 001 and 002 located at St. Paul’s UNA Primary School, Bajulaiye, Ward F, an agent of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Mr Elliot Anuoluwapo, described the exercise as orderly and hitch-free.
“It is very, very perfect. No issues at all. Nothing to cry foul of. Everything is going fine as expected,” he said.
An APC agent at the same polling unit, Mr Ademola Toheeb, also commended the conduct of the election.
“So far, so good. The election is going well, fair and free. Today is a working day, so we have some voters at work,” Toheeb said.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) agent at Polling Unit 046, Mr Godwin Okocha-Ezinwanne, said there had been no complaints since voting commenced.
“Since it is going successfully here, we don’t have any problem. I don’t see any complaint,” he said.
Mrs Agnes Ogbu, an APC agent at Polling Unit 003, expressed satisfaction with the process, noting that voters were arriving steadily at the polling station.
Another NDP agent at the same polling unit, Mr Maxwell Onyeacholem, described the exercise as well- coordinated.
“The process is perfect, well coordinated and without issues, though the turnout is not encouraging,” he said.
A voter at Polling Unit 010, Mr Bashiru Ayinla, described participation in elections as a civic responsibility.
“I am taking part in this exercise because it is a duty for me to cast my vote. If I don’t vote, I am disenfranchising myself,” he said.
Ayinla urged whoever emerges as councillor to prioritise community development and work closely with local authorities to address residents’ needs.
Another ADC agent, Mr Ahmed Olayiwola, attributed the low turnout to voter apathy and inadequate mobilisation.
Also, an APC agent, Mr Yusuf Dawodu, was the exercise was peaceful,but witnessed minimal participation by voters.
Mrs Azeezat Kazeem, an NDP agent at Polling Unit 018, also expressed concern over the poor turnout.
Kazeem attributed the low participation to economic hardship and limited public interest in by-elections.
At Polling Unit 047 in Ward H, Kayode/Fadeyi, Miss Fiyinfoluwa Santos, an ADC agent, described the process as free, fair and transparent.
“The process has been fair so far. Nobody is cajoling anyone to come out and vote. People are coming willingly to cast their votes without being forced,” she said.
Another ADC agent at Polling Unit 008 in the same ward also expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, describing it as peaceful and transparent.
At Polling Units 009 and 036, APC agents Mr Emmanuel Fakinlede and Mrs Helen Taylor commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise but lamented the low turnout of voters.
Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Mr Abdul-Lateef Ashimi, commended LASIEC for organising a credible by-election.
According to Ashimi, the election became necessary following the demise of the ward’s elected councillor and was being conducted in line with constitutional provisions.
“I think LASIEC has done well. They put everything in place to ensure the election takes place,” he said.
Ashimi urged the incoming councillor to sustain ongoing development efforts and contribute meaningfully to governance in the area.
He also reported a peaceful security situation across the ward, saying he monitored the exercise and found the process free, fair and orderly.
“The LASIEC people have been carrying out their duties properly. The electorate have also been coming out to cast their votes and there is no violence anywhere,” he said.
NAN observed low voter turnout across most polling units visited, with electoral officials waiting for hours for voters to arrive.
At Polling Unit 001, Bajulaiye Ward F, only 44 of the 559 registered voters had voted as of 11:52 a.m., while 18 of the 1,146 registered voters at Polling Unit 003 had cast their ballots as of 12:04 p.m.
Similarly, at Polling Unit 047 in Kayode/Fadeyi Ward H, only 61 of the 309 registered voters had voted as of 1:05 p.m., while 14 of the 331 registered voters at Polling Unit 009 had voted as at 1:00 p.m. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
SIO/AYO/BHB
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Edited by Buhari Bolaji