Late Materials, Low Voter Turnout Disrupt Ogun, Zamfara LG Elections

Local government elections in Ogun and Zamfara states held on Saturday faced significant challenges, marked by low voter turnout and logistical delays.

In Ogun, the delay in the arrival of voting materials and accreditation starting late left voters frustrated and disillusioned.

In many areas of Ogun State, including Ikenne Local Government, voters at polling units O1, O5, and 13 were still waiting for election officials and materials well into the late morning.

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Pa Adetayo Joseph, a voter at one of the affected units, expressed his frustration, saying, “The accreditation was supposed to begin by 8 am, but as of nearly 9 am, no one had arrived. Some voters may get discouraged and leave.”

Although voting officially began around 11 am in some polling units, many locations still saw delays, including at the Wesley Primary School in Iperu and several polling units in Abeokuta North. However, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who cast his vote at 11:24 am, praised the peaceful nature of the election and commended the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for its efforts in resolving the issues.

He said, “While there were minor logistical glitches, election materials have reached every part of the state, and voting is underway.”

Opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, strongly criticized the election, calling it a “sham” and accusing the ruling APC of electoral manipulation. Sunday Solarin, PDP Secretary in the state, claimed, “No election took place today, only violence and intimidation by APC loyalists.”

In Zamfara, the situation was marked by an even more glaring absence of voter participation. Despite election materials arriving on time, polling stations were nearly empty.

Residents, disillusioned by the absence of the opposition APC and doubts over the integrity of the process, chose not to vote. Ibrahim Idris, a local shop owner, remarked, “Why should I vote when they’ve already decided who wins?”

Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, who cast his vote at the Women’s Center polling unit, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, despite the apathy shown by voters.

In both states, the elections highlighted significant concerns over the credibility and fairness of local elections, with accusations of voter disenfranchisement and logistical mishaps casting a shadow over the democratic process.