Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu voted at exactly 11:09 a.m. on Saturday at Polling Unit 006, Saint Stephens Nursery and Primary School, Lagos Island Local Government.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC officials arrived at Ward E3, Polling Unit 006, at approximately 7:30 a.m. for the Lagos State council polls.
The governor, accompanied by his wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, acknowledged some earlier logistics issues in certain areas, which he said had been resolved.
“Everything is okay here,” he said. “Although the unit is heavily populated, voting is progressing well, and the officers are present. I’ve voted successfully.
“Party agents are here, and it’s extremely peaceful. I’ve seen some logistics issues on TV, but I believe they’ve now been resolved,” the governor said.
He noted that some officers experienced delays reaching their polling units, but expressed gratitude for the calm and favourable weather.
“I commend LASIEC. This election is very important, and I believe results will be compiled later in the day,” he said.
The governor stressed the importance of local government as a vital tier for grassroots development and public service delivery.
“It is vital people realise this is the closest government to them. I’ve fulfilled my civic responsibility,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He urged Lagos residents to come out and vote, describing the process as peaceful and encouraging wider participation.
“I know there were some initial logistics hiccups at certain polling units, but I understand those have now been addressed.
“Let’s continue to come out in large numbers and vote,” the governor appealed.
NAN reports that LASIEC is conducting elections into 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the state. (NAN)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, has ordered massive deployment of personnel across the state ahead of the Local Government (LG) elections on Saturday.
Jimoh disclosed this in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, in Lagos on Wednesday.
He said the deployment was to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
The commissioner also announced restrictions on vehicular movements between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
“Elaborate security arrangements and comprehensive security measures have been put in place to ensure security, safety, and peaceful and orderly conduct of the LG elections.
‘The command with other security and safety agencies is working together under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“The restriction of vehicular movements will apply to all roads and waterways within the state jurisdiction,” he said.
He added that police escorts and armed security aides were strictly prohibited from accompanying their principals to polling units or collation centres. The measure was to prevent any undue influence or intimidation during the election.
“Police escorts, covered number plates, and the use of sirens at or in the vicinity of polling units and collation centres are prohibited,” he said.
CP Jimoh said that only vehicles designated for essential services, such as ambulances, fire trucks, and patrol vehicles operated by security agencies in the ICCES, would be permitted to operate during the restriction period.
“All other vehicles, including those belonging to any quasi-security outfit and state security agencies, are barred from movement, as no state-owned security agency is authorised to participate in the election security operations, in line with the electoral act.
“The movement restriction will not apply to essential services such as those on medical emergencies and other emergency responders and their workers, the duly accredited officials of the LASIEC and accredited election observers and media practitioners on election coverage accredited by LASIEC.
“These categories of groups and individuals are permitted to carry out their lawful duties during the election period, provided they adhere to all the relevant guidelines and regulations in the electoral act,” the commissioner said.
He said that all the security agencies personnel and other stakeholders, including the media and election observers accredited by LASEIC for the election, would have and wear their identification tags certified by LASEIC throughout the period of the election.
“No one without the identification tag will be allowed to take part in the election. Anyone arrested without an identification tag will be investigated and prosecuted in line with the Electoral Act, “he said.
Some APC members in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State on Tuesday protested the alleged imposition of Mr Adebayo Adefuye as the council’s chairmanship candidate for the July 12 local government elections.
The protest was reports that the protest was carried out simultaneously as the Lagos State APC was presenting party’s flags to its chairmanship and councillorship candidates for the polls.
Scores of protesters, who came from different wards of Yaba LCDA, took to the streets to express their grievances.
They displayed placards with various inscriptions such as “Adebayo is an Alien”, “Asiwaju, save our soul, Yaba LCDA rejects Adebayo Adefuye”, “Yaba rejects Adefuye” and “Adefuye is a foreigner.”
Leading the protest, Mr Ismail Olorunimbe, a Chieftain of the party from Ward C, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and party leaders to save the party in the area by allowing the will of the party members to prevail.
Olorunimbe, said that party faithful in the area were unhappy over the imposition of Adefuye, who he said had been allegedly earlier rejected as chairmanship candidate at Somolu Local Government.
He said that Adefuye originally belongs to Somolu and not Yaba LCDA.
According to him, the APC leadership should pick its chairmanship flagbearers from the 13 aspirants who initially contested for the party ticket.
Olorunimbe said, “The people of Yaba LCDA are not happy, you can see the crowd, we are appealing to President Tinubu to please intervene.
“These people have laboured for the party, we need the President’s intervention to reverse this trend and not to allow imposing Mr Adebayo Adefuye from Somolu to be our candidate in Yaba LCDA.
“Adebayo is an imposition and we won’t accept him, he should go back to Somolu and contest, we have capable hands, about 13 qualified aspirants came out here, they should pick among them.
“Adefuye does not have structures, no cultural ties, no economic ties, and is not a resident of Yaba LCDA and does not know anything about the terrain.”
He, however, maintained the group’s loyalty to the party.
Olorunimbe queried the process that produced Adefuye as the candidate.
Also speaking, Mrs Rasidat Ojoobaro, another party stalwart, appealed to the leadership of APC to please intervene, “to stop members from resorting to self-help.”
Mrs Tayo Funsho, who also expressed grievances, said the APC must listen to the will of the loyal party members.
It was reported that the protesters moved from Adekunle roundabout to the Sabo area.
Recall that 55 Chairmanship candidates emerged at the May 10 APC primaries leaving out Lagos Mainland Local Government and Yaba LCDA owing to issues bordering on litigations, and so delegates were absent.
Traditional rulers and community leaders in Ikeja have thrown their weight behind Prince Adeyinka Illo’s ambition to contest in the upcoming local government chairmanship election, purchasing a N5.5 million nomination form on his behalf.
The Regent of Ikeja, Prince Adekunle Apena, revealed this on Tuesday at his palace during Prince Illo’s official declaration.
In his address, Apena urged party leaders and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to endorse Illpo as the party’s flag bearer for the July local government election.
“We the community leaders in Ikeja with other stakeholders have resolved and insist to support our own son of the soil, Prince Adeyinka Illo to succeed the present chairman Mojeed Balogun, who is also the son of the soil in Ikeja.
“We are appealing to the party leaders and Chieftains to consider our plight and anoint our candidate for the local government election.
“That’s why the community contributed money to purchase the nomination form for him to show our support for his aspiration,” the traditional ruler said.
Chief Lateef Oluwaseyi, the Oluwo General of Ikeja also in his remarks appealed to the party leaders to give Prince Illo the mandate of becoming the flag bearer of the party during the coming local council election in Lagos State.
He is tested and trusted, we know him and know his root, we will be comfortable working with him for development like the present chairman that’s why we are urging the party stakeholders to anoint our candidate.
Mrs Munirat Ibraheem the Akeweje of Ikeja, in her remarks also demanded the party to give the Prince the opportunity to be the flag bearer of the party.
Ibrahim added that Ilo would also perform well if given the mandate to become the council chairman.
Alhaji Olusola Coker, a Community Leader said that Ilo would be the best candidate to represent the party at the coming local government election.
Coker added that Prince Illo would work according to the laid down legacy of his predecessor and follow the development trend in Ikeja local government.
Mr Peter Izuchukwu, the Representative of Igbo Community in Ikeja said that his group also supported the aspirant’s ambition of becoming the council chairman.
“We are in full support of his ambition, we know him and trust him for he will continue the good work of his predecessor,” he said.
Prince Illo while given his remarks thanked the community leaders, the chiefs and other groups for the trust and confidence they have in him to purchase the nomination form for him to become the council chairman.
“I assure you that I will not let you down, my priorities are mainly based on development and infrastructure and I promise I will fulfill them if given the mandate.
“And I urge you all to support our party to the funnest to ensure total victory during the election in July,” he said.
There was low turn out of voters in the local government elections held on Saturday across Ondo State.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) said 13 political parties fielded candidates for the election.
But the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party pulled out of the exercise on Wednesday, citing lack of trust on the electoral body to conduct credible polls.
Electoral officers arrived polling units at about 8am but voters’ turnout were low
At various polling units, electoral officers were seen waiting for voters.
An electoral officer at Sacred Heart Primary School, Akure, said less than 20 voters have voted at about 11:30am.
The situation was the same at Ward 4, Unit 27 and Unit 7, Ward 2, Unit nine and Unit 10.
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ebenezer Adeniyan, who voted at polling Unit seven, Ward 4, Akure South local government, described the process as smooth and peaceful.
Adeniyan said reports from across the state indicated that the turnout was encouraging.
He said: “The process was smooth. It has been peaceful. The turnout could be better. This is a good outing for Ondo State. It is the process leading to enthronement of local government autonomy. We have not recorded any incident across the state. The report of the election has been encouraging.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who voted at Polling Unit 5, Ugbo Ward 4, Ilaje Local Government Area, commended ODIEC for ensuring seamless conduct of elections.
Aiyedatiwa said it was a step towards enhancing grassroots development.
He said his administration was committed to effective running of the local government system in the state in line with the provisions of the law.
Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun has commended the people of the State for the orderly manner they conducted themselves during the local government election in the State.
The Governor gave the commendation on Saturday while fielding questions from newsmen after voting at Ita-Osanyin Unit 2, Ward 3, Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the State.
Abiodun, who arrived at the polling booth at 11:10 am and voted at 11:22 am, noted the peaceful atmosphere across the State is an indication that the people are ready to elect the candidate of their choice.
The Governor said: “I want to thank the good people of Ogun State who have come out in their numbers to express themselves through the ballots. I see this as a vote of confidence, particularly at this time.
“I am confident that when the elections are concluded and the people have expressed their choice through the ballot everybody will be happy.”
He acknowledged some hiccups in the process, but expressed confident in the ability of the State Independent Electoral Commission to surmount it.
Abiodun added: “I want to appreciate the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for the level of preparedness for this election. The feedback I have gotten is that they are very thorough and they have been very diligent.
“In any election, you cannot rule out some logistical hiccups but by and large, I have been informed that that is over now and electoral materials have reached all polling booths in the State and the process of voting has commenced in ernest.”
The Governor commended men and women of the law enforcement agencies for working collaboratively to ensure a peaceful election in the State.
Abiodun lauded the media for giving adequate coverage to the processes leading to the election and pleaded with them to be objective in their reportage to avoid confusion and disaffection, adding that “when there is no misinformation, there will be no confusion.”
Meanwhile, there was very impressive turn out in Sagamu and Ikenne Local Governments as voters were seen trooping to their various polling units to cast their ballots.
An election observer from Advocacy for Social Justice & Liberty, Charles Odunuga, commended the electoral body for what he termed decent and well organized process.
He, therefore, uurged the electorate to maintain the peace till the end of the exercise, adding that peaceful environment plays pivotal role in strengthening democracy.
Also, a voter in Sagamu, Pastor Sola Komolafe, euologised the proactiveness of the electoral commission and level of preparedness, including level-playibg ground for opposition parties to thrive.
In the same vein, Mrs Kafilat Sokoya, another voter in Grammar School area of Ikenne, described the process across the town as peaceful and orderly, as she advised voters to shun inducement and act of violence.
The election was also peaceful, particularly in the Abeokuta South and Abeokuta North Local Governments.
A visit to various locations within the two local governments revealed a calm environment.
Heavy presence of security personnel, including the police, army, Amotekun and the NSCDC was observed at most places to keep the peace.
At numerous polling stations, voters were seen behaving appropriately and patiently awaiting their turn to cast their ballots, as the necessary electoral materials had been delivered.
[16/11, 14:18] Lekan: Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun cast his vote at Ita-Osanyin Polling Unit 2 Ward 3, Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government, during the local government election on Saturday.
The Army has challenged the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to back allegations of its involvement in the just-concluded local council elections in Kaduna State with pictorial and visual evidence.
The PDP had alleged that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General M Mohammed, was instrumental in doctoring the election.
The Army urged the general public to disregard the publication and regard the perpetrators as mischief makers and enemies of progress bent on pitching the military against the people of Kaduna State.
While demanding immediate apology over what it described as a desperate blackmail, the Nigerian Army called on the party to issue retraction of the “unfounded allegation on or before May 26, threatening that appropriate legal action will be taken against them.
A statement by the Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Muhammad Dole, explained the military hierarchy has always emphasised on political stance of its troops in all the occasions.
It said: “This allegation is totally baseless and irresponsibly conceived with ill motive of tarnishing the image and personality of the GOC.
“The perpetrators of this falsehood are expected to back up their allegations with pictorial views or visual evidence of the scenes of the event to prove the involvement of the GOC or troops of the 1 Division NA in any part of Kaduna State.
“In view of the foregoing, Headquarters 1 Division NA requests the immediate retraction of this allegation with apology to our gallant officers and men who are daily paying supreme sacrifice to ensure peaceful atmosphere in Kaduna State.”
The Nigerian Army says it neutralised two female suicide bombers, who attempted to infiltrate troops in Kawuri, in Konduga Local Government Area on Friday.
Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
Nwachukwu said that the suicide bombers had used the cover of darkness to stalk the military camp at about 9.45 pm but were promptly detected by the vigilant troops who engaged them when they refused to comply with their order.
He said one of the suicide vests detonated immediately killing the two suicide bombers while the second suicide vest failed to detonate.
He explained that the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team had safely detonated the suicide vest.
Local government election yesterday held across the 33 local government areas and 35 local council development areas of Oyo State. The poll which is coming up eleven years after the last one held in the state, witnessed low turnout of voters. Twelve political parties participated in the election which was monitored by two international observers including the European Union (EU) and International Foundation of Electoral System (IFES).
In their separate remarks, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the State Commissioner of Police Abiodun Odude as well as observers who monitored the election applauded the peaceful conduct of the electorate and contestants during the election. Ajimobi who was in company of his wife spoke with journalists after casting their votes at about 12.07pm at ward 9 unit 20 situated inside Community High School, Oluyole, Ibadan.
The governor commended the people for supporting the process, pointing out that the election was peaceful, free and fair. He said, “Everybody is well organised as you can see. I really commend our people for their peaceful conduct and for their support for a smooth electoral process. It is great that Oyo State has moved from the era of brigandage for which it was known before the inception of our administration.”
In his remarks, Mr Odude, the State Commissioner of Police, said that he has moved round the metropolis and was satisfied with the peaceful conduct of the election and the electorate. Describing the election as peaceful, free and fair, the CP assured that a comprehensive report would be released after the election to access the whole process and its conduct. As at the time of filling this report, collation of results from all the polling units were ongoing. The final result of the election is being awaited at the headquarters of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC).
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Saturday condemned the resurgence of the cult war in Idi-Oro and Ayeye areas of Ibadan North West Local Government Area which claimed the life of a teenage girl on Saturday.
A statement by the Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the Governor, Mr Bolaji Tunji, said the governor was pained by the disturbing news, especially coming on the heels of the conduct of the state’s first local government election in 11 years.
The governor, the statement said, condoled with the family of the victim and vowed to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Ajimobi said: “From the intelligence reports at my disposal, the perpetrators of this heinous and condemnable crime were the recalcitrant cultists engaging in supremacy battle in Idi Oro and Ayeye areas of Ibadan who are yet to embrace our peace initiative.
“That they chose to disturb the peace of the neighbourhood on the day Oyo had a very peaceful LG election across the state is regrettable.
“ I was told that elections took place successfully in the polling booth closest to the scene of the incident without any hitch before the cultists struck.
“I want to use this opportunity to condole with the family of the victim for the irredeemable loss. Let me again warn that those bent on scuttling the peace that we have enthroned across the state in the last seven years will live to regret their action.
“I have directed the security agents to ensure that they fish out the perpetrators of the crime and ensure that they are brought to justice. I want to appeal to the good people of Oyo State to join hands with the government to sustain our hard earned peace.”
Meanwhile, Ajimobi has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the council election across the state, saying he was highly impressed with the turnout of voters.
The governor cast his vote at 12:07 pm in company with his wife, Florence, at Ward 09, Unit 20, Community Grammar School, Oluyole, Ibadan.
He said that reports reaching him from 33 local governments and35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state indicated that the exercise was peaceful, orderly, free and fair.
The governor expressed confidence that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), would win in all the local governments and LCDAs in the state due to the outstanding performance of his administration in the last seven years.
Ajimobi said that his administration had enthroned peace and security since its inception, thus erasing the typecast of Oyo as a state of brigandage and violence.
He also expressed happiness that in spite of the several failed attempts at conducting the council elections occasioned by some legal encumbrances, the exercise eventually held in a peaceful atmosphere.
