The local government elections held in Ogun and Zamfara states on Saturday were marred by low turnout of voters and late arrival of voting materials.
In Ogun State, Sunday PUNCH gathered that accreditation and voting did not start until around 11 am and 12 pm in many polling units.
As of 10:30 am according to Sunday PUNCH, polling units O1, O5, and 13 of Ward 8, Ilisan in Ikenne Local Government Area, voters were still waiting anxiously for the arrival of materials and officials of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission.
Speaking with newsmen, a voter, Pa Adetayo Joseph said, “The accreditation for the election is supposed to start by 8 am but this is almost 9 am and no one is in sight.
“We are not happy this is happening because some voters can be discouraged and go back home without voting. So, we urge the officials of OGSIEC to please come around and get this job done”.
While voting began around 11 am at polling unit 005 inside the Wesley Primary School at Iperu ward 5, voters were still waiting for the OGSIEC officials as of 11:45 at polling unit 11 inside the same primary school.
In Abeokuta North, ward 16 unit 15, Mango junction, Oke-Ata; ward 16 unit 28, Ika Oloba 28; ward 16 unit 17, Oluwo Odunjo; ward 16 units 1 and 2, Oke-Ata Housing Estate, the anxious voters as of 11:52 am were still waiting for the arrival of the officials and voting materials.
Governor Dapo Abiodun who cast his vote at about 11:24 at polling unit 002, Ita Osanyin, Iperu Ward 3 in Ikenne Local Government, hailed the peaceful conduct of the election.
Abiodun while speaking to journalists after voting lauded OGSIEC for their level of preparedness to ensure the success of the elections.
The governor said though there were little glitches with the logistics, everything was resolved and election materials reached every nook and cranny of the state.
Abiodun said, “In any election, we cannot rule out some logistics hiccups but by and large I have been informed that as of now, the election materials have reached every nook and cranny of the state and voting has commenced in earnest”.
Opposition parties, however, condemned the conduct of the election, saying that it fell short of acceptable standards of a credible, free and fair poll.
The Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Sunday Solarin while speaking with Sunday PUNCH, claimed that no election took place in the state.
Solarin said “I am not aware that election took place in the state today, what we had was a sham, the unleashing of violence against members of opposition parties by thugs loyal to the APC
The Chairman of the Labour Party, Lookman Jagun, at a press briefing held in Abeokuta, also faulted OGSIEC, saying the electoral body connived with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to defraud the residents of the state.
Jagun said, “Sadly, the Chairman of OGSIEC, Babatunde Osibodu has failed to use the opportunity of the local government election to distinguish himself. What took place in Ogun state today falls short of the minimum standard required for the conduct of an election”.
The Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Tunde Oladunjoye, however, faulted the claims of the opposition parties, describing them as losers.
Meanwhile in Zamfara State, the electorate deserted polling units, leaving the electoral officers alone with election materials.
Sunday PUNCH observed that, although the electoral officers arrived at their various polling centres on time, only a few people were seen in lines waiting to cast their votes.
People were going about their businesses as if no election was taking place, unlike the previous elections where people reported to their polling centres on time to avoid overcrowding.
It was gathered that the refusal of the opposition APC to participate in the election might be one of the factors that hindered the participation of the electorate.
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, a shop owner, Ibrahim Idris, said he had no time to waste because ‘the election had been concluded’.
He said, “Why should I waste my time to cast my vote when I know that they (government) have already decided on who will win the election”.
Addressing journalists, the spokesperson of APC, Yusuf Idris, said his party decided not to participate in the election because of noncompliance with the electoral laws by the state’s Independent Electoral Commission.
Governor Dauda Lawal who cast his vote at Women Center Polling unit expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
