LASIEC Officials Absent as Voters Await Polls in Ikoyi, Obalende
There was growing tension and frustration in parts of Lagos State on Saturday as voters in areas like Ikoyi and Obalende were left waiting for several hours due to the absence of officials from the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) during the scheduled local government elections.
Eligible voters who turned out early in anticipation of casting their ballots expressed disappointment over the delayed commencement of the polls. At several polling units in these high-profile neighborhoods, no electoral materials or LASIEC personnel were present as of mid-morning, prompting concerns over transparency and voter disenfranchisement.
“I’ve been here since 8 a.m., but up till now, we haven’t seen any officials or materials. People are getting restless,” said a visibly upset resident in Obalende.
Community leaders and civil society observers monitoring the election described the situation as worrisome, urging LASIEC to urgently deploy staff and voting materials to the affected areas. Some speculated logistical lapses or poor planning as the cause of the delay.
As the hours passed with little to no communication from LASIEC, many voters began to lose hope of participating in the exercise, raising questions about the credibility and preparedness of the electoral process in one of Nigeria’s most influential states.
Despite assurances earlier in the week by LASIEC that all was set for a smooth election across the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), Saturday’s delayed start in Ikoyi and Obalende has sparked concerns over electoral coordination and fairness.
As of press time, LASIEC had yet to issue an official statement addressing the situation in these areas.
