Lagos LG Poll: Low Turnout Mars Exercise In Kosofe As Residents Demands Payment Before Voting

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised concerns over increasing voter apathy and the growing trend of residents demanding financial inducements before casting their ballots in Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos State.

An agent of the party, Alli Olugbenga, who is stationed at Ward C in Kosofe Local Government Area, described the situation as disturbing, stating that despite efforts to mobilise voters, many residents insisted on being paid before they would vote.

“They want me to pay them before they come out and vote. It’s wrong. It’s their civic right. They should not sell their vote. We’ve been going from house to house, begging people to come out, but many say they won’t vote unless they are ‘settled’,” Olugbenga told The Punch.

According to him, at Polling Unit 028 in Ward C, where 106 voters were expected, only two had cast their ballots by mid-morning.

APC party agents in the area said they had been calling known voters since 8:00 a.m., hoping to increase participation.

“We have called some people and we are still waiting for them,” one agent said, visibly disappointed.

Naijaonpoint understands that the situation was no different at Polling Unit 029, also in Ward C, where just six out of 160 registered voters had shown up by 11:33 a.m. Party agents at the unit confirmed that the process was peaceful and that no incidents had been recorded.

At Polling Unit 015, still within Ward C, only about 20 voters out of 928 had participated as of midday. An electoral official present at the unit noted that although the process remained calm, voter turnout was underwhelming.

“People are not coming out. It’s peaceful, but the enthusiasm is not there,” the official said.

A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) agent at one of the polling units voiced her frustration over the low turnout, describing the situation as discouraging.

“Everybody has been at home. No one is coming to vote. I’m frustrated,” she lamented.

Naijaonpoint reports that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) is conducting the elections across the state’s Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

Despite a generally peaceful process and cooperation among party agents, the persistent issue of low voter turnout, especially in parts of Kosofe such as Ikosi-Isheri, remains a significant concern.