Takeaways from Lagos LG Polls

Political notes

Some women believed to be loyal to Accord Party, on Tuesday, protested half-naked against the July 22 local government elections in Lagos State at the office of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). The crux of their protest was that the election was manipulated and of course, indicted the LASIEC authority as culpable in the alleged ‘arm-twisting of the electorate’.

But away from their comedy, it is common knowledge that an overwhelming apathy characterised the July 22, local government elections in the state and it strongly indicated how the people generally see the closest tier of government in the Nigerian context. Not only were people uninterested in the voting exercise, they probably had no clue which candidate was fielded for what post and in which council. That was quite unfortunate!

Moving forward, it is arguable now that the local government administration in the country generally requires some thorough review that would not only guarantee a degree of autonomy to enable them function effectively. It must also ensure that they are not just referred to as the closest to the people, the people’s interest in what goes on at that level of governance must reflect so. But the recent council elections in Lagos were no less a disappointment. It was simply business as usual and the cycle goes on.

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