Epe LG Elections: Lagos Deputy Gov Frowns At Poor Voters Turnout

By_ Kaka Babatunde

• APC Flagbearers, Princess Surah, Monsuru Aimasiko and Wale Raji Anomo Coast to Victory.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has frowned at the poor turn out of voters in the just concluded Local Government Elections as well as other parts of the State.

Epe Division, like other geographical divisions in Lagos State, went to the polls on 24th July 2021, to elect both the executive and legislative leaders of government at the grassroots.

As gathered by Eko Hot Blog, the voters turn out in the main event was a far cry from the impressive turnout recorded during the Primaries which held on May 30, 2021.

Polling Units in Ward A5 and A6 at Ogunmode College, Luyepo Primary School, Zumuratul Islamiyyah Primary School were deserted around 9-10 am as LASIEC officials who arrived at the centre in the company of security officers as early as 8:00 waited patiently for the electorates to vote.

Speaking with Eko Hot Blog after casting his vote around 10.20 am at Polling Unit 02 Ward D, Oke-Balogun, Epe, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, having observed that voters didn’t turn up, said they had no moral right to criticize the process of governance with such display of apathy towards electing leaders to pilot the affairs of the collectivity.

Hamzat who was accompanied by Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu, APC GAC member, Barrister Tunde Seriki, Commissioner Lagos State Civil Service Commission and Hon Akeem Shittu, Permanent member, SUBEB board, commended the peaceful conduct of the election and also charged residents to shun any form of violence.

The Deputy Governor further assured that candidates contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, would deliver on their campaign promises, noting that a periodic review of their performances will be put in place by the party.

“The party expects the candidates to keep to its guidelines, as there is a system of evaluation in place. Though local governments are different and each of them will be focusing on different things, they must focus on certain things and they will be evaluated on a quarterly basis,” he stated.

Eko Hot Blog also visited Polling Units in Ward A1, A2, A3 and A4 in Epe, where the turnout was equally underwhelming. Party agents of both the APC and PDP described the situation as shocking even though several efforts were made to canvass their support before Election Day.

As observed by Eko Hot Blog, electorates who were supposed to exercise their franchise were found going about their normal businesses in markets, shops, while flagrantly disregarding the restriction of movement declared by the State Governor prior to the elections. A few residents told our correspondent that they were not interested in the election as it is a sheer waste of their precious time.

At Eredo LCDA, Eko Hot Blog visited Ward M1, Odomola primary school where the story was different. The voting polling unit saw a sizeable number of voters exercising their franchise. It was gathered that the Polling Units were besieged because the APC Chairmanship Aspirant, Monsuru Aimasiko, hails from the area.

The turnout was similar at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School Ibonwon in Ward J1, B, which housed Polling Units 02, 03, 09 and 14. SA on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale and her entourage were sighted monitoring the election.

At Ward J1 Polling Units, Odo-Shiwola junction, Ward H1, LG Primary School Igbooye,
Ward K1, Unit 06, 05, RCM Primary School, Mojoda, Ward L1, D, 002, 003, 004, 005 Pobo Primary School, Poka and also LG Primary School, Noforija, the turnout was low.

Ekohotlog thereafter visited collation centres after voting was brought to a close by 3 pm. At Epe Girls High School, LASIEC Officials and Party agents were sighted collating results of the Counsellorship election around 5 pm.

At Epe Local Government Secretariat, Ita-Marun, LASIEC Adhoc staff members thronged the Chairmanship election Collation Center to return electoral materials while the Returning Officer and his team awaited results for compilation.

At the LASIEC Colation Center in Eredo LCDA around 6:30 pm, while the Adhoc staff members were trooping in with electoral materials in preparation for collation of results, the mood for hundreds of party faithful was jubilant as arrangement for anticipated celebrations was already in place with DJ Walex on the wheels of steel blasting blazing spiriting tunes to the excitement of the audience. Hon Dahunsi Ogunkelu, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Epe Constituency II, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, SA Civic Engagement, Surveyor Olayemi, Monsuru Aimasiko and his Vice were sighted, waiting for the official announcement of the election results.

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Princess Surah Animashaun, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairmanship candidate was announced the winner by the LASIEC Returning Officer, Mr Oladega SK late in the night. She garnered 11,232 votes. The joyous first female Chairman in Epe was in the company of Hon Abiodun Tobun, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Epe Constituency I, Mr Kehinde Adeniyi, Epe LGA APC Chairman alongside other party faithful.

At Eredo LCDA, Monsuru Akinloye of the APC was declared victorious as he polled 6,946 votes against the PDP candidate who managed 854 votes. The result was announced by the LASIEC Returning Officer, Mr Razak Azeez.

Meanwhile, the total votes cast which indicated voter apathy in Ikosi-Ejinrin was no different from Epe and Eredo Councils as the APC Chairmanship candidate, Mr Wale Raji Anomo polled 7,917 votes according to a reliable source.