[LG Elections] ‘Awareness, Disappointment’: Why We Didn’t Vote — Lagos Residents

Despite the description of the Lagos state local government elections by some parties’ chieftains as being peaceful, some residents of the state refrained themselves from exercising their franchise.

Some residents of Jakande Estate, Oke-Afa Ward, on Saturday said their apathy toward voting was borne out of their disappointment with some elected office holders in the area.

They claimed some political office holders had failed to fulfill their campaign promises, hence their decision to abstain from voting on Saturday.

According to a resident, Mr Yusuf Amuda, many politicians in the area promised everything during campaign but failed to deliver and disappear until the next election.

Also speaking, Miss Ronke Adegbenro, lamented that what was meant for everybody was usually shared among a few and only card-carrying members of parties benefit from such gesture.

According to her, many of the politicians in the area became inaccessible once elected into office.

On the contrary, some residents in other local council areas of the state blame their non-appearance at the polling booth on low awareness of the election by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

A resident of Oto Awori LCDA, Mr Anayo Nebonta, claimed that he only “got wind” of the election this morning on his way to his business.

According to him, in the past when such elections were held, it was given wide publicity for every eligible voter to be aware, to come out and exercise their rights.

He, however, expressed dissatisfaction on what he described as “poor publicity” of the ongoing process and urged that it be made better in the future.

“Many Lagos residents were not even aware of this Local Council election, and we were asking ourselves if this election is meant for some segment of the state, because if we are not aware then who are those to cast the votes.

“I had planned my business for today only to be informed of the restriction of movement.

“I advice that in a democratic setting like Nigeria, there should be sufficient publicity, to prepare voters for the exercise.

“This is because, we are the ones to select our leaders,” he said.

Meanwhile, on her part, a resident, Miss Iyabo Oloruntobi, said when she came out of the house this morning, she was informed by friends that the election had been postponed.

“Infact even me, when I came out, everyone in my area was saying there was nothing like election.

“I went back to my house but later decided to come out again when I discovered no vehicle was moving and I saw some policemen.

“That was what gave me assurance that there will be election,” she said.

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