By Adeyemi Adeleye
The Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), retired Justice Bola Okikiola-Ighile , on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with voter participation in the councillorship by-elections across affected wards in the state.
Okikiola-Ighile spoke with journalists after monitoring the elections in Ward F, Somolu Local Government Area, and Ward H, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mushin.
The LASIEC chairman said reports from other locations, including Ibeju-Lekki, also indicated peaceful and orderly conduct of the exercise.
She dismissed suggestions of poor voter turnout, saying observations from election officials showed impressive participation .
“That actually is not the report we got. From our own polling officers, people have been coming since morning. Some people came before going to work.
“Some came because they are around and people are still coming. They started since 9 o’clock and it is going to end at 2.00 p.m.
“Looking at the ballot boxes, without us touching them, we see that they were filled to the extent that we believe they will. The result is that it is very impressive, it is quite impressive.”
She explained that turnout should not be compared with figures recorded during general elections because the exercise was limited to specific wards.
The LASIEC chairman attributed the absence of long queues to the increase in the number of polling units across the affected wards.
“You will not see people who will collectively stand together. There are some polling units that are next to each other.
“So, we have quite a number of polling units around. For instance, in Odi-Olowo here, we have 50 just for that one ward.
“In Somolu, we have 26 and in Ibeju-Lekki, 21. So you wouldn’t expect a long line,” she added.
Speaking on the next stage of the electoral process, she said collation would commence immediately after the close of voting .
She said party agents would witness the counting and collation process to ensure transparency.
The LASIEC chairman expressed optimism that the results would be declared immediately after the exercise and would reflect the wishes of the voters.
“By God’s grace, we believe it (announcement of winners) should be today. Immediately we get the collated results.
Okikiola-Ighile described the process as peaceful and inclusive.
She said the absence of violence reflected the commitment of political parties and voters to peaceful participation.
According to her, all participating parties were adequately represented at polling units through their agents.
She commended voters, political parties, security agencies and journalists for supporting the the commission in the conduct of the elections. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
AYO/BHB
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Edited by Buhari Bolaji