The Saturday local government elections in Ogun State was largely characterised by low turnout of voters and logistic challenges at the early stage of the excercise in most council areas.
The elections scheduled to hold between 8 a.m and 2 p.m did not start until 11a.m in most of the polling centres.
Most of the polling units visited at Itoku and Kobiti areas in Abeokuta South Local Government area, as well as Ewekero and Mowe areas in Obafemi-Owode Local Government, were virtually empty as at 10 a.m.
Some electoral officials were, however, on ground as early as possible in some of the polling units at Obantoko and Federal College of Education, Osiele in Odeda Local Government area with the election materials.
They were, however, seen sitting idle waiting for voters who were coming out in trickles.
Apathy also played out in other council areas like the Ado-Odo/Ota and Ikenne council areas in spite of the fact that the electoral officers were on ground.
The excercise was generally peaceful
in all the polling booths, in spite of minimal presence of security officials, including the Amotekun corps.
The restriction order on movement was strictly enforced in most of the local government areas, except at Iperu, the hometown of the governor in Ikenne Local Government.
Residents violated the restriction order in the town as they were going about their normal businesses, while vehicles were moving about unhindered in many parts of the town.
Commenting, Mr Abdullahi Jabi, an Election Observer, said that the exercise was peaceful and orderly in many of the polling booths.
Jabi also confirmed that the excercise was characterised with low turnout.
He said there seems to be apathy, saying that the fear of the unknown could not allow some of the voters to come out.
“For the areas we have covered so far, it has been peaceful, but there has been clear evidence of apathy.
“You can imagine that in a particular unit of almost 800 registered voters, only 10 people turned out for voting, as at almost noon.
“People are generally losing interest in the council polls and if the situation is not addressed quickly, it will extend into the general elections,” Jabi said.
He ascribed the situation to fear of insecurity and lack of faith by the electorate in the state electoral agency.
Meanwhile, food vendors and other traders made brisk business at polling units in Sango-Ota during the elections.
Most of the voters who trooped out to cast their votes were seen buying foods, soft drinks, bottle water, biscuits, chin-chin, puff-puff (Deep fried dough), biscuits and other items.
Some of the vendors said they made good money from voters at the polling units.
They also said they brought their wares to sell at the polling units since movement was banned during the election.
A food vendor, Mrs Opeyemi Ogundele, said: “I made some money today as many people bought from me and I am happy.”
Mr Daniel Balogun, a soft drink and bottle water seller, also said he made money as many people bought from him.
Miss Tolulope Adeyemi, a small chops seller, also said many people patronised her, which made her happy.
“I am delighted as many people patronised me today,” she said.
Musa Ibrahim, a cigarette, kolanut, bitter cola vendor, also expressed satisfaction with the sales he made at polling units, adding that the large crowd was a blessing to him.
The election grounded commercial and business activities as all shops were closed while vehicular movement was also restricted as directed by the state government.
Security agencies enforced the no movement restriction, forcing many commuters and motorists to be stranded.
Police officers, soldiers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen in various locations maintaining law and order during the exercise.
The security personnel were in strategic locations at Lafenwa, Ita-Osin, and Ayetoro Road in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.
Some motorists and commutters who were coming into Abeokuta from Ayetoro and Imeko, and other parts of the state, were prevented from entering by military men at the Alamala Barracks.
One of the travellers, Mr Taofik Bala, said that he was not aware of the stay at home order for the elections.
Bala regretted that he was unable to transport his goods to the desired destination.
Some of the polling units visited in some parts of Abeokuta and Yewa North Local Government area of the state began the exercise at exactly 8 a.m with voters casting their votes.
Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun has pledged to grant local government authorities autonomy to enable residents enjoy more dividends of democracy.
The governor said this on Saturday after he cast his vote at Ita-Osanyin Ward 3 in Iperu, his hometown.
Abiodun said he would ensure the new local government chairmen who would emerge from the just concluded election got autonomy to administer their council areas.
He said the achievement of the local government caretaker committee in the last 20 months showed that when given autonomy, council chairmen would do more at the grassroots.
According to him, the caretaker committees ensured that their projects were well funded in line with the constitution.
“We will respect the autonomy of the local government in line with the yearnings of the Governors’ Forum.
“I believe that they are a tier of government that should be given a free hand to run their affairs.
“They are the closest administrative office to the grassroots, they are able to make that impact because they are much closer to the people than any organ of government,”he said.
On the election, Abiodun adjudged the election free, fair and peaceful across the state.
He said that reports he got from the field indicated that there were no disruptions and voters were able to vote for candidates of their choice peacefully.
The governor commended the state electoral agency for the peaceful poll.
The elections, scheduled to end by 2.p.m,
were extended to 3.p.m.
The Ogun Independent Electoral Commission (OGISIEC) said the extension was to avoid disenfranchisement of most voters
The election, however, witnessed low turnouts in some parts of the state.
