LG election: Late arrival of voting materials observed in Kwara

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

The 2024 Local Government Area election in Kwara State has been marred by the late arrival of voting materials at various polling units, as observed by Western Post.

The election, which was scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m., did not commence in several polling units until around 10:00 a.m.

At Polling Unit 010, Mogaji Are 2, Commissioner of Police Lodge, GRA, Ilorin South Local Government Area, only security personnel and one party agent were present when Western Post visited. The party agent stated that he had arrived at the polling unit as early as 6:00 a.m. but had not seen any ad hoc officials or voting materials.

Speaking with a polling unit officer, Ishola Oluwatosin, she explained that the delay was due to her losing her way. She eventually arrived around 11:00 a.m., and by 11:56 a.m., only five people had voted.

In Offa Local Government Area, the election began slowly, with voting yet to start at 10:00 a.m. Most polling units remained sparsely populated as voters awaited the arrival of materials and electoral officers.

Abdullateef Quasim, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) agent, expressed frustration over the late arrival of materials, stating that they had been waiting since 7:00 a.m.

Assessing the situation, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ilorin South Local Government, Hon. Majeed Bolakale Podo, described the process as peaceful and orderly.

“Everything is going smoothly. There have been no complaints in all the wards in Ilorin South. So far, it has been peaceful and orderly,” Podo said.

When asked about his plans for the constituents if elected, Hon. Podo stated, “If I emerge as chairman of my local government, I will follow in the footsteps of my governor because the governor is a performing governor.”

Meanwhile, while monitoring the election in parts of the Ilorin metropolis, the chairman of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC), Mohammed Baba-Okanla, attributed the reported delays to logistical breakdowns.

“Certain circumstances can cause delays. Some of the vehicles conveying election materials to polling units broke down, but we have addressed the situation. As you can see, normalcy has returned in this area. In the places we have visited, there were no major issues, just a delay in the arrival of materials. Once we arrived, the situation improved,” Baba-Okanla explained.