LGA Polls: Sanwo-Olu commends peaceful process, as oting ends across
By Lukman Balogun and Bankole Adeshina
After eight hours of voting, the local government election to choose the new Chairmen and Councillors in Lagos State has ended.
This comes after the counting of votes were completed by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission’s Ad-hoc officials at various polling units.
Voice of Nigeria witnessed the process at some polling units in Ikeja, the state capital and observed that counting was done under the watchful eyes of the security personnel and accredited polling agents stationed at the various polling stations.
Although the exercise was characterised by low turn out, but it was adjudged to be peaceful and orderly by the voters, including the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu who voted in Okepopo Lagos Island area of the state.
The election was conducted in 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.
About 7,060,195 registered voters in Lagos were expected to vote at the 13,325 polling units across the 376 wards spread across the state.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended the electioneering process to elect the new Local government Chairmen and Councillors in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.
Sanwo-Olu gave the commendation after casting his ballot at the Polling unit 006, Ward E3 Oke-popo, Lagos Island East LCDA, where he voted alongside his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.
The Governor who acknowledged some glitches that were earlier observed in the process, but were swiftly summounted urged voters in the state to come out to exercise their civic rights towards building strong local government.
“As you can see, everything is okay here, apart from the fact that it is a populated area, we are in Lagos Island. Voting is going on well. The officers are on ground and we have conducted our civic exercise very well and you can see the atmosphere, all the agents of the parties are on ground and in three-four minutes it’s all over.
“But quite frankly, watching on TV, maybe there are one or two logistics in one or two places, but I think they have also resolved them. You know how typical it is, you know early morning vehicular movements, and buses could not come on time.
“The beauty of it is that all the officers and ad-hoc staff are on ground to go to their polling units and they have all their materials. It’s not that there were shortage of materials or anything, It’s really just for people to get to their polling unit on time and I am sure by now, everybody should be there,” he said.
The Governor described the process as free and fair, stressing that Local Government is the closest to the grassroots, and a critical arm of government that must be protected.
According to him “Local government is an important arm of government and you can. see that is what our constitution stipulates, they are independent and you know we have been advocating for their independence and as you can see that a lot of them have projects that and deliverables and they are competing among themselves and we are excited about that.
He emphasised that the Local governments has in the past served a complimentary role to further push the developmental agenda of his administration at the grassroot.
