As voters in Lagos State head to the polls for the local government elections, major roads across the state were largely deserted Saturday morning, with strict enforcement of movement restrictions by security agencies.
The Nigeria Police had earlier announced a statewide restriction of movement from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to ensure smooth conduct of the elections.
The situation reported an absence of both vehicular and pedestrian activity along major corridors, including Otedola Road, Ojota, and Yaba.
In Ojodu Local Council Development Area, only limited movement was observed along Ogunusi Road in Ogba and the Berger bus stop. Security presence was visible, with a patrol vehicle used to barricade a section of the road near the Berger pedestrian bridge. Motorists who were cleared by officers in the area were directed to reverse and use the expressway instead.
Eligible voters in possession of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are casting their ballots to elect chairmen, vice-chairmen, and councillors across 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The state has 13,325 polling units distributed across 376 wards, with an estimated population of about 20 million people.
Lagos State, the economic nerve centre of Nigeria, remains under the political control of the All Progressives Congress, which also dominates the federal government. The state contributes significantly to national revenue and houses the headquarters of many multinational and corporate organisations. Whether the APC’s dominance will be challenged in this grassroots election remains to be seen.
Ahead of the polls, Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, affirmed that no political party was barred from participating in the exercise. According to LASIEC, 15 of Nigeria’s 19 registered political parties fielded candidates for various positions across the state.
Justice Okikiolu-Ighile told Channels Television that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System would not be used, the commission had other means to verify voters. “There are some electronics that we are going to use in between. We can go manual,” she said.
The elections are being conducted across all LGAs in the state, including Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, and Surulere.
Voting is also taking place in 37 LCDAs such as Orile Agege, Ifelodun, Agbado-Oke Odo, Ayobo-Ipaja, Egbe-Idimu, Mosan-Okunola, Oriade, Apapa Iganmu, Olorunda, Badagry West, Eredo, Ikosi-Ejirin, Ikoyi-Obalende, Iru/Victoria Island, Lekki, Ojokoro, Onigbongbo, Ojodu, Igbogbo-Baiyeku, Ijede, Imota, Ikorodu North, Ikorodu West, Agboyi-Ketu, Ikosi-Isheri, Lagos Island East, Yaba, Odi-Olowo, Iba, Oto-Awori, Ejigbo, Isolo, Bariga, Coker-Aguda, and Itire-Ikate.
In Agege, attention is particularly focused on Abdulganiyu Obasa, son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, who is vying for the vice-chairmanship position in the local government.
