28th September, 2012
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, has rued the downward trend in the turnout of voters during local government elections, particularly in the last three to four years, describing it as a dangerous trend which may have negative consequences on legitimacy, good governance and other components of democracy.
This was made known by the LASIEC chairman, Justice Afolabi AbdulFatai Adeyinka, (rtd), at the Commission’s Political Stakeholders Forum held at Ostral Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, for grassroots representatives, NGO’s, civil populace, security personnel and the press.
Speaking at the occasion, he said the 20 October, 2011 local government election was adjudged by observers to be free, fair and credible, adding that post election analysis however showed that the turn-out was low in some areas while apathy was apparent in others.
“The Commission has observed a downward trend in the turn-out of voters particularly in the last three to four years. Seven hundred and eighty one thousand three hundred and sixty three (781,363) voted out of the 6.2 million registered voters in the 2011 local government election which amounted to 12.78 %, whereas in the year 2008 council elections, 1,054,971(One million, fifty-four thousand, nine hundred and seventy) voted out of the 4.2million registered voters which amount to 25.1%.
“This is a dangerous trend which may have negative consequences on legitimacy, good governance and other components of democracy. Although democracy is not totally problem free, it bequeathed to man his fundamental freedom of choice among political parties.
“What we see in some countries today that make us to classify them as “developed” or “advanced” is mostly achieved through the strengthening of their democracy at the grassroots level thus making development to evolve from the grassroots and rise to the state and federal levels,” he said.
The LASIEC boss said the last council election was observed by the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria, FOSIECON, as well as other independent observers from within and outside Nigeria.
“It was observed in the FOSIECON Communique that LASIEC made proper arrangements with particular reference to logistics, transportation, security and the distribution of electoral materials. The ballot papers were customised while only political parties contesting in the elections had their logos printed on the ballot papers.
“The elections observers also referred to the use of plastic polling booths for voters to thumb print without other voters identifying the political parties being voted far as a remarkable feat by LASIEC. The “Open Secret Open” system of voting which LASIEC adopted at the 2011 local council elections was well embraced by the electorates,” he averred.
—Jamiu Yisa