By Emeka Alex Duru
Unlike the huge response by voters in the February 23 presidential and National Assembly election, the governorship and State Assembly exercise, was marked with low voter turnout and apathy.
This was even with early arrival of materials and adequate security arrangements at polling units.
At most of the Polling Units around Satellite Town of Lagos State, voting had virtually ended as early as 11am, on account of low response by voters. Electoral officials who basically idled away in the duty posts, were waiting for the stipulated 2.00pm closing time to announce the results.
At the Satellite Town Primary school complex that had about six polling units, not more than 50 voters were counted by our reporters by 10 . 44am – a sharp contrast to the situation, two weeks ago.
The low turnout replicated in the entire Ward F in the area.
Voters who volunteered comments on condition of anonymity, blamed the apathy to the allegation of manipulation that trailed the presidential poll.
A particular flustered voter, who simply identified himself as Mr Okowa, fumed: “Do you blame anybody? You were here on February 23 and saw the huge crowd that came to vote. But what did we get at the end of the day? People are tired of wasting their time. The votes do not count”.
Elsewhere, the voters complained of threats that were handed on a section of Nigerians, as reason for staying away from the exercise.
“They said we (Igbo) are not part of Lagos. They said they would attack us if we came out to vote. We are therefore not coming out to vote. It is their Lagos. Let them choose their Governor and House of Assembly members. It is their businesses,” declared a middle aged man who chose to be reading his old newspapers, while voting was on.