LAGOS – A lawmaker, Rep. Benjamin Adeyemi Olabinjo, on Saturday lauded the conduct of the local government elections in Lagos, dismissing claims of voter apathy.
Olabinjo, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ifako-Ijaye Constituency, told newsmen at a polling unit that personnel of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) performed commendably.
He said that they arrived early with voting materials and with security officers.
He lauded the efficient management of the electoral process.
In his message to the incoming chairperson of the local government, Olabinjo urged that the incoming executives build upon the achievements of previous administrations.
“My advice to the incoming chairman is that he or she should emulate what he met on ground.
“I must say that since the creation of this local government, we have served and have been doing our best, and the record is there.
“People can go around and see what we’ve done. So, I want him or her to do better than what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker emphasised the importance of continuity and the need for all local government officials to work diligently for the good of the community.
Olabinjo recalled the significant increase in the number of functional roads within the local government during his tenure as chairman.
Addressing the issue of political coalitions witnessed in recent months, the lawmaker described it as a normal occurrence in a functioning democracy.
“Any government that doesn’t have anybody to criticise them, one way or the other, that government will not function very well.
“It is because the more they attack you, the more you have more strength and the more you do good things for the community and the people,” he added.
Also, the outgoing Chairman of Ijaiye/Ojokoro Local Government Area, Mr Hammed Tijani, commended the LASEIC for its conduct of the local council elections.
Speaking after casting his vote in Ojokoro, the chairman noted that the electoral process had been peaceful across various polling units he had visited.
Tijani also lauded the efforts of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies for their significant deployment of personnel to ensure order at the polling stations.
The outgoing chairman specifically praised the residents of Ojokoro for their peaceful and orderly participation in the civic exercise.
He highlighted the developmental strides of his party during his tenure, expressing confidence that the electorate were aware of their performance.
Similarly, the APC candidate of the council, Barr. Oluyemisi Rosiji, said that there were early indications of a commendable voter turnout.
Rosiji expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise and commended the promptness of LASEIC.
She also noted the significant turnout of voters, attributing it to increased awareness among citizens regarding the importance of exercising their civic rights during elections.
The APC candidate observed a marked difference in attitude compared to previous elections, where some individuals preferred to remain at home.
Rosiji emphasised her commitment to ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach the people.
She outlined key areas of focus, including infrastructure development such as roads and drainages, improved healthcare services, and comprehensive empowerment programmes for youths and women.
She also pledged to foster a transparent and accountable government that truly served the interests of the populace.
Rosiji said that the essence of democracy was that “it is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
The Chairmanship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Lanre Sanusi, also commended the smooth conduct of elections in the community.
Sanusi, who spoke on the sidelines of his polling unit at Ward B1, Polling Unit 032, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the elections, adding that he was optimistic about the outcome of the process.
“We have had a very rigorous campaign exercise and it is visible to the eyes and the ears, and we can only pray and hope that the results will be in our favour.
“The feelers that I have gotten from my tour all the way down to Abule-Ado, is that it has been very peaceful here.
“I want to sincerely appreciate the security architecture for a job well done and they are still doing it and we pray that it will be sustained and everything will be fine,” he said.
On his part, Mr Olusedan Dani, the outgoing Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said the LASIEC processes had improved tremendously compared to what it used to be.
Dani said this while casting his vote at about 10:05 a.m. at Polling Unit 004, Omokun ward B unit 11 in Igbogbo, Lagos State.
“The election is calm and cool. We are making sure that the atmosphere is cool for the electorate.
“There is improvement on the part of LASIEC, they have been trained and their relationship with the electorate is smooth.
“I think they have a way of checking the voters’ register using a code and this has made the process very fast,” he said.
Dani urged residents to come out enmasse to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party for more development at the grassroots.
He also assured the electorate that they would surmount the present challenges in the country.
“I have voted for my party, APC, a promising party and I’m using this opportunity to equally inform residents that we don’t promise what we can not do.
“APC is a party of promise keepers, and what Nigeria is going through now is a process or a system, and I can assure you that, by God’s grace we will all laugh last,” Dani said.
Similarly, Mrs Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice-Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, lauded the LASIEC for peaceful conduct and timely distribution of materials.
Olabanji-Oba, who voted at Polling Unit 01 in Isele, also urged the electorate to come out enmasse and vote, assuring them of victory.
“I have to give LASIEC kudos for timely disbursement as well as peaceful conduct.
“I have to give kudos to everybody and all the stakeholders who made today possible for everyone to exercise their civic rights.
“This is the central, like I said, definitely it will be a plus. I am assured we will record victory at the polls,” the vice-chairman said.(NAN)
