An agent of the All Progressives Congress, Alli Olugbenga, has raised alarm over incidents of voters demanding money before casting their ballots in Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos State.
Olugbenga, who is stationed at Ward C, Kosofe Local Government Area, told The PUNCH that he encountered several residents who refused to go to polling units unless they were paid.
“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’,” he said.
At Polling Unit 028 in Ward C, where 106 voters are expected, only two had cast their votes as of mid-morning.
APC party agents there said they had been calling known voters and waiting patiently since 8:00 a.m.
“We have called some people and we are still waiting for them,” one agent said.
The situation was similar at Polling Unit 029, also in Ward C, where just six out of 160 registered voters had shown up by 11:33 a.m.
Despite the low turnout, officials described the process as peaceful, with agents from different parties cooperating and voters behaving orderly.
A PDP agent, however, expressed disappointment over the apathy.
“Everybody has been at home. No one is coming to vote. I’m frustrated,” she said.
At Polling Unit 015, also in Ward C, only about 20 voters out of 928 had cast their votes as of midday.
An electoral official described the process as peaceful but noted that many residents appeared reluctant to vote.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission is conducting the elections across 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, aiming to fill critical grassroots leadership positions.
But once again, low voter turnout remains a major concern, particularly in Ikosi-Isheri and other parts
