Residents of Ikosi‑Isheri in Kosofe Local Government Area voiced frustration on July 12, 2025, as they found themselves sidelined from Lagos State’s local government elections by missing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and scant information about voting procedures.
On Saturday morning, our reporter observed scarce voter turnout amid confusion.
A woman, busy doing laundry and speaking in Pidgin, stated she hadn’t known when registration occurred, lamenting, “I no know when dem do am. I for register.” She added that nobody informed her about collecting voter cards .
Multiple residents echoed her concerns, citing a lack of guidance on registration timelines and PVC collection. “I for vote today, but I no get voter’s card. My own don loss,” said a man identified as “Oga Electrician”.
That sentiment captured the growing discontent among eligible voters who lost opportunities due to uncollected PVCs.
While Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) aimed to hold smooth polls across all 20 LGAs and 37 Local Council Development Areas, reports from Ikosi‑Isheri reveal administrative gaps. Delayed deployment of materials and officials worsened matters.
On several occasions, the first votes were cast hours behind schedule—Banjoko Ibidunni recorded the first ballot in her ward at 10:28 a.m., nearly two and a half hours late.
Our correspondent noted that some voters struggled to locate polling units, relying on calls to ward councillors in the absence of signage and officials .
As frustrations grew, electoral personnel themselves faced setbacks.
Dozens of officials and security personnel were stranded at the Ikosi‑Isheri LCDA secretariat as of 9:45 a.m., having arrived the night before but failed to receive deployment orders.
Without trained staff on site, many units sat empty or opened late, compounding voter exclusion and apathy.
Low turnout and confusion in Ikosi‑Isheri reflect a broader trend across Lagos.
In Lagos Island East, Premium Times observed underwhelming queues—at one unit, 11 voters appeared against 122 registered; another showed 5 out of 62, and yet another hosted only 6 of 48.
With an estimated 845,225 PVCs still uncollected in a pool of over 7 million registrants statewide, LASIEC anticipated reduced participation .
To confront entrenched voter apathy, LASIEC chairperson Justice Bola Okikiolu‑Ighile rolled out outreach strategies ahead of Saturday’s polling. She led voter education teams through markets, campuses, religious centres, and PWD hubs in five administrative divisions, including Kosofe.
Training emphasized accessibility for pregnant women, nursing mothers, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities . She highlighted that Lagos expanded polling units to over 13,325—up from 8,000 in 2021—to bring voting closer to communities .
Still, the disconnect between voter empowerment efforts and grassroots reality remains stark. The absence of PVCs, delayed setups, limited public awareness, and official disarray crippled participation earlier this morning.
As the election continues, voters in Ikosi‑Isheri who hold valid PVCs may yet cast ballots—provided polling units open, staff arrive, and the remaining window remains accessible until 3 p.m.
