Voters apathy, card reader hitches underline Lagos LG poll

As the LG elections get underway, some officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission have blamed their late arrival to polling units on the non-availability of card-readers.
The election, according to reports from our correspondents that monitored the situation, was characterised by low turnout of voters, card readers and malfunctioning that made the electoral officials to resort to the use of manual accreditation of voters.
Card reader malfunctions
At PU 25, Ward G, Alibaba, Irawo/Ajegunle, the presiding officer said voting started late.
The official also complained that the card reader is malfunctioning.
“It has been saying authentication failed. So, we are doing annual accreditation,” he said.
Voters turnout
At the PU004, Ward C3b, Odi Olowo, Adesina, one of the officials said, “people are not coming out to vote; we don’t know why”.
A voter who identified himself as Seni said “people are not coming out again because there is nothing encouraging about this government, so they have lost hope in election”.
No face mask, no voting
Some voters at the PU025, ward B, Okerube, Ijegun, were sent back to get their face masks before being accredited.
Kabiru Omotosho, a voter, said, “The officers did right by ensuring that COVID-19 protocols are adhered to. I was asked to go back; I don’t know how and why I forgot to bring my nose mask. Maybe I was anxious and excited to vote.”
At the PU02, ward G, Irawo/Ajegunle, an electoral official said, “We started early but we’ve been having issues with the card reader. It’s not authenticating. I keep switching it and on. Though just a few people have turned out to vote.”
Accord party agent alleges malpractice
At the PU 016, Odi-Olowo, Mushin, the Accord Party agent alleged that there were incidents of malpractice and connivance between the APC agents and LASIEC officials.
Another polling unit (024) in Ikeja, same story; low turnout of voters. But the LASIEC personnel said everything had been “smooth and steady”.
LASIEC officials said as of 11.45am, less than 20 voters had shown up since 9am at Ward E – PU 019 and Ward D – PU 020, Iru, Victoria Island.
Additional reports by TheCable