Lagos LG Poll: Voters were allowed to vote with any identity card

Agency ReporterJuly 24, 2021

0 5 minutes read

As Lagos residents come out today to cast their ballots in 13,323 polling units across 57 local councils in the state to elect their local government chairmen and councillors for a fresh four-year term.

Voters were allowed to vote by using any of the identity cards, including international passports and national identity cards in some polling units in the Ifako-Ijaiye and Oshodi-Isolo area.

It was gathered that voters are encouraged to present any identity cards with which their names are checked in the voter’s register and allowed to vote.

15 political parties were registered for the election according to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

Voting begins at 8 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. in all the polling units, while those in the queue by 3 p.m. will be attended to.

There are 6.5 million registered voters for the election and the electoral commission said COVID-19 protocols will be strictly adhered to during the election.

The commission also said it may transmit the results of the election electronically on its “robust and user-friendly” website, despite still experiencing technical challenges less than 24 hours to voting.

LASIEC officials with their voting materials (Cubicle, register and ballot boxes) in Coker Aguda LCDA in Surulere.

“Our website should really reflect the result,” said Ayotunde Philips, the LASIEC boss. “We are having a bit of problem now with uploading but, hopefully, it is going to be reflecting on our website.”

At 11:15 a.m. Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu casts his vote at Unit 019 Femi Okunnu/Jakande, Ikoyi Lagos.

The Governor commended the electoral commission, LASIEC, and security agents on the peaceful conduct of the elections.

Ojo LGA

At Iyana-Iba, there is a relatively low turnout of voters. As of 11:30 a.m., there were few people at the polling stations and more young people on the streets playing football.

At Etegbin, a riverine community, a voter said that there was a late arrival of material and low turnout. The situation was the same at the various riverine communities adjoining Etegbin.

At Shibiri, Afromedia, Ajangbadi and Okokomaiko, there was also low turnout of voters.

Badagry LGA/Agbara:

At Ajido, Badagry LGA, there was the late arrival of materials due to what an official described as a “logistics problem”.

As of 11:26 a.m., there was also a low turnout of voters in Agbara and the adjoining communities.

Some polling units under Ikorodu, Oshodi-Isolo and Ifako-Ijaiye local government areas of Lagos are experiencing card readers malfunction in the Saturday election.

At polling unit 15, Agbado-Oke ward in Ifako-Ijaiye, voters were allowed to vote using any identity card, including international passport and national identity cards.

It was gathered that the card reader in the polling unit is not functioning and the manual process accreditation process is being used by electoral officers.

“A man whose name is different from what is in the voter’s register was allowed to vote,” a resident said.

Similarly, at Ward G, polling units 16 and 17, Ajao Estate, Oshodi-Isolo local government, card readers are not working.

It was gathered that voters are encouraged to present any identity cards with which their names are checked in the voter’s register and allowed to vote.

However, the voting process is going smoothly at many polling units at Ikorodu local government.

In Idimu, Isheri, Akowonjo, Egbeda, Igando, and Ikotun-Egbe, there is a relatively low turnout.

As of 11’o clock, two major polling stations visited in Idimu recorded a low turnout.

The same was the situation in Egbeda, Isheri and Igando, where young people were seen trooping out to play football.

Lagos Island

10:55 am: In Oke-Arin/Eko-Idumota ward 03, Pu-003, Enu-Owa/Azikwe 2, voting commenced at 10:00.

According to a voter, she has been here since 7 a.m. The presiding officer declined to comment.

11:08am: Ward 3, unit 2, Idumota, Lagos Island LGA. The card reader is working.

Suleimon Taiwo, the presiding officer, said there are 652 registered voters, but only 12 have voted.

11:17am Ward A3, Idumota oke-arin Oke-Arin, PU 007

Oluwagbega Oladeji, the presiding officer, said the card reader has been “working to an extent.”

Meanwhile, about 20 voters have filed the incident report form.

Mr Oladeji said they started one hour late due to the “late distribution of materials.”

11: 34 am Oluwole 2, ward 4, PU 010 Lagos Island LGA

Ebenezer Awoleye said the card reader is faulty, it shows “Invalid date and time.”

Our vehicle broke down, that’s why we got here late. We started by 9:00 am.

The covid-19 protocol is fully adhered to here.

11:44 am: Ward 02 Oluwole PU Martin car park 008, Lagos Island LGA, polling booth 8

Joshua Makinde, the presiding officer said the card reader is working “perfectly”. He explained that the incident form is for those with temporary voters cards.

The covid-19 protocol is fully adhered to here.

At the time of visitation, no voter was sighted.

10:38 am PU 035, ward 04, Lagos Mainland LGA.

The presiding officer, Toyeeb Mutiu, said they started around 8:30 a.m.

Mr Mutiu said they have only seen 10 voters out of 435 voters.

At the time of visitation, there was no voters insight.

An unidentified man brought some snacks for the electoral officers.

The electoral officers are adhering to the covid-19 protocol.

The turnout in most parts of Ogba was fairly impressive, compared to other parts of the Lagos West District monitored by Premium Times.

At Yaya Abatan, as of 9:30 a.m., there were some voters at the polling station.

The number was equally fair at Orimolade Bus-Stop, Ogba.

10: 11 Ward A2, PU 044, Yaba LCDA, Mainland LGA, A PDP party agent said they started around 10 am. The card reader is not “reading the fingers.”

But the supervisory presiding officer, Deji Bolarinwa said, they have only recorded one case where the card reader could not capture the card bearer.

“Not all the fingers, we have only recorded on the case. There is an incidence form in case that happened. It is not the normal voting process, after the accreditation, you vote, he said.

10:20 am Ward A, PU014, Yaba LCDA, Mainland LGA.

Seven voters have voted since 8:15am, Emmanuel Odutusin, Presiding officer said.

“There is voter apathy, they are not coming out to vote,” he added.

8:38 Electoral officials with voting materials are about to leave for their various pollings stations in Otire-Ikate LCDA, in Surulere Loval Government Area.

There are 12 commercials vehicles ‘Danfo’ to convey official here.

09:17 am Agunbiade ward, code 02, PU 009, Two APC party members without awaiting the arrival of electoral officers.

09:20: Individual businesses (food sellers, soft drink sellers, mini markets) are open in some parts of Surulere.

09:50 Surulere LGA, voting has started. PU 35

09:52 Shitta Bank-Olemoh ward, Surulere LGA, PU 034

Voting has started but at the time of visit, there was no voters insight.

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