Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has cast his vote at Polling Unit 006, Ward E, Lagos Island Local Government Area at exactly 11:10am, expressing satisfaction with the peaceful and well-coordinated conduct of the ongoing local government elections across the State on Saturday.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, lauded the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for the efficient organisation of the polls.
The governor, while fielding questions from journalists, noted that although there were minor logistical issues in the early hours of the day, the issues were swiftly resolved, allowing the election process to proceed smoothly.
“As you can see, everything is okay here. Voting is ongoing, the officers are on ground, and I have just performed my civic responsibility. The atmosphere is peaceful, party agents are present, and within three to four minutes, everything is concluded,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor said he monitored early activities at polling centers through media coverage before arriving at his polling unit.
He cited initial transportation delays for electoral officers due to vehicular movement restrictions, but confirmed that necessary personnel and materials were deployed on time.
“There were no shortages of materials. The issue was just about getting people to their polling units. But as of now, the reports indicate that most areas have commenced voting,” he added.
Highlighting the importance of local government in the country’s democratic framework, Sanwo-Olu emphasised the need for grassroots administration to function independently in accordance with constitutional provisions
“Local government is an important arm of government, and their independence is key. Here in Lagos, many of them are executing impactful projects and competing among themselves in terms of development,” the governor noted.
He also commended the performance of chairmen and councillors across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), saying they have aligned with the state’s THEMES Plus development agenda and were contributing to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope vision.
“Our councils have keyed into the THEMES Plus agenda and are running with it, even at the LCDA level. This shows their commitment to service delivery and grassroots development,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He further acknowledged the presence of election observers, including delegates from other state electoral commissions, who were on the ground to monitor the election process in Lagos.
As of the time of filing this report, voting was ongoing in various parts of the state, with residents electing chairmen and councillors across LGAs and LCDAs.
