As Lagosians trooped to the polls yesterday to decide who takes over the mantle of leadership at the local government level in the state, the Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has charged residents of the state to remain peaceful and accept the results of the election.
The governor who spoke with journalists at about 11am, shortly after casting his vote at 002 polling unit in State Junior Grammar School , Itolo-Surulere with his wife, Dame Abimbola Fashola, said the Local Government Election was local and germane to the development of the various communities in the state, urging residents not to derail the process.
He said the state was a mini-Nigeria harbouring virtually people from different ethnic nationalities, adding that the state,”has prepared for the worst, while expecting the best from the polls”.
Fashola affirmed that reports available to him showed that the state was peaceful, and added that adequate security measure had been put in place by the government to ensure protection of lives and properties.
As apathy and irregularities trailed the local government polls in the state, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Yakub Balogun, who spoke with our correspondent, attributed the initial low turnout of voters on inadequate publicity and awareness campaign on the part of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
The former Lagos state Head of Service turned politician urged the residents to participate actively in the polls which,he said would impact positively on their lives.