Lagos: Voting materials and electoral officers arrived late at many polling units in Lagos during Saturday's local government elections in the state. The elections, which were scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m., faced significant delays due to logistical challenges and adverse weather conditions.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, electoral officers and voting materials began to arrive at many polling units after the scheduled start time of 8:00 a.m. In areas such as Egbe-Agodo, there were no signs of voting materials or electoral officers present at Polling Units 030, 031, and 029 as of 8:00 a.m., with only an agent from the All Progressives Congress in attendance. Voters who had arrived early left disappointed after observing no signs of election commencement.
The late arrival of electoral officers was also reported at seven polling units in Agege. Mrs. Abiola Choice, a Presiding Officer in Agege, cited the late distribution of election materials as the reason for her delayed arrival, mentioning a lack of transportation to the polling stations even after collecting materials from the registration area center.
Compounding the logistical issues, a heavy downpour in the early hours of the morning delayed the arrival of electoral officers and materials in Epe, Eredo, and Ikosi-Ejirin. The rain, which began around 5:35 a.m., was also seen as a deterrent for many voters, especially the elderly and those from distant locations, according to Mr. Deji Agunrege, a resident of Epe.
In Oshodi/Isolo Local Council Development Area, electoral officers had yet to arrive at Polling Unit 021 located at Ohafia Junction as of 8:48 a.m., with residents seen engaging in other activities. Similarly, in Badagry and Festac Town in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, there were significant delays in the arrival of electoral officers and materials.
Pastor Emmanuel Okigwe, Secretary of the Labour Party at Ward C, expressed concern over the irregularities, noting the inability of his party to inspect the materials in a timely manner. Voters in Egbe/Idimu Ward 5 also faced challenges, with some polling units ready by 9:00 a.m. but lacking voter turnout.
A mix-up in the addresses of some polling units further delayed the commencement of voting in Egbe-Agodo, with electoral officers reporting incorrect locations and waiting for supervisors to resolve the issue. Voting eventually started at various polling units around 9:00 a.m., with some areas experiencing low voter turnout.
Despite these challenges, there were instances of peaceful conduct and strong voter turnout reported in certain areas. Mrs. Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government Area, commended voters for their peaceful conduct and urged eligible voters to participate in the elections. Voting commenced at different times across polling units in Mile 12 and other locations, with electoral officers making efforts to organize and distribute materials efficiently.