An agent of the All Progressives Congress, Alli Olugbenga, has raised alarm over incidents of voters demanding money before casting their ballots in Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos State.
Olugbenga, who is stationed at Ward C, Kosofe Local Government Area, told The PUNCH that he encountered several residents who refused to go to polling units unless they were paid.
“They want me to pay them before they come out and vote. It’s wrong. It’s their civic right. They should not sell their vote. We’ve been going from house to house, begging people to come out, but many say they won’t vote unless they are ‘settled’,” he said.
At Polling Unit 028 in Ward C, where 106 voters are expected, only two had cast their votes as of mid-morning.
APC party agents there said they had been calling known voters and waiting patiently since 8:00 a.m.
“We have called some people and we are still waiting for them,” one agent said.
The situation was similar at Polling Unit 029, also in Ward C, where just six out of 160 registered voters had shown up by 11:33 a.m.
Despite the low turnout, officials described the process as peaceful, with agents from different parties cooperating and voters behaving orderly.
A PDP agent, however, expressed disappointment over the apathy.
“Everybody has been at home. No one is coming to vote. I’m frustrated,” she said.
At Polling Unit 015, also in Ward C, only about 20 voters out of 928 had cast their votes as of midday.
An electoral official described the process as peaceful but noted that many residents appeared reluctant to vote.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission is conducting the elections across 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, aiming to fill critical grassroots leadership positions.
But once again, low voter turnout remains a major concern, particularly in Ikosi-Isheri and other parts of Kosofe LGA.
A prominent figure and Board of Trustees member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, has openly accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of actively undermining the party’s established system and working in concert with the ruling All Progressives Congress.
George’s remarks came during an interview with Arise TV on Friday, where he addressed the persistent internal crises plaguing the opposition party.
George described Wike as a “loose cannon” whose actions are detrimental to the PDP’s cohesion and future prospects.
He highlighted the party’s structured system, emphasising that all committees, including reconciliation efforts led by figures like Bukola Saraki, ultimately report to the National Executive Committee.
The NEC, according to George, holds the ultimate authority second only to the national convention.
The PDP chieftain revealed that the party’s inability to convene a NEC meeting for an extended period contributed significantly to the ongoing “shenanigans.”
He cited a dispute concerning the party’s secretary, who contested for governorship without resigning, as a key factor that stalled NEC meetings.
However, George confirmed that the party has now resolved these procedural hurdles, with a crucial NEC meeting slated for July 23rd.
“He seems like he’s very much the loose cannon of the party that’s hell-bent on destroying it. In fact, he seems to have succeeded on some levels, working hand-in-hand with the APC,” George asserted, directly implicating Wike in efforts to destabilize the PDP.
He stressed that individuals of Wike’s status, being a member of the Board of Trustees, cannot simply be “fired” but must be held accountable through the party’s established processes.
The upcoming NEC meeting is anticipated to be a pivotal moment for the PDP, where all outstanding issues, including those related to Wike’s alleged anti-party activities, will be tabled for discussion and resolution.
George expressed optimism that adherence to the party’s constitution and the collective will of its members would prevail, leading to a much-needed rebirth and strengthening of the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
The member representing Surulere 1 Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Desmond Elliot, says the Permanent Voter Card remains a proof of civic responsibility, rather than a measure of party loyalty.
Elliot said this shortly after casting his vote at Onitolo Nusery/ Primary School, Unit 009, in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Lagos State Government is conducting elections for chairmanship and councillorship positions across all 20 local government areas and 37 local development council areas.
“PVC does not mean voting for my party. It means exercising your civic responsibility,” he said.
According to him, it’s unfair for individuals to seek government support without contributing to the democratic process through voting.
“You can’t sit at home and later come to seek help from people who others sacrificed to vote into power,” he said.
Elliot described the turnout of the election as slightly low but expressed optimism that more voters would show up as the day progressed.
The lawmaker noted that local government elections should attract more participation than presidential polls due to their direct impact on daily life.
“Development begins at the grassroots level. With powers and revenue now devolved to local governments, this election holds significant importance.
“The outcome of this election will have a direct impact on the lives of citizens, making it crucial for voters to exercise their franchise wisely and elect leaders who will prioritise their needs and drive development in their areas,” he said.
He advocated increased public discussion about the responsibilities of local governments, highlighting their critical role in primary healthcare, market management, and maintenance of inner roads.
‘They want to rig’ — Ex Deputy Gov calls for cancellation of Lagos LG polls
The lawmaker commended the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission for the orderly conduct of the election.
The headquarters of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission in Yaba witnessed tight security on Saturday as the state conducted its local government elections.
A News Agency of Nigeria political correspondent at the LASIEC office reported a strong presence of security personnel, including a commendable number of police officers stationed at the premises.
Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Services were also present, positioned in their respective operational vans.
Vehicular movement on the street leading to the LASIEC office was restricted, with roadblocks mounted at both ends to control access and ensure order.
Elsewhere in Badagry, similar security measures were observed, with personnel from the Nigeria Police, NSCDC, and the Federal Road Safety Corps deployed to maintain peace and order.
There was high compliance with the restriction of movement in the Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area of the state as voters were peaceful in their conduct.
NAN reports that the usually bustling streets of Mosan-Okunola, located in the Alimosho area, were quiet as of 9a.m., with only security personnel, electoral officials, and a few accredited observers seen moving around.
Major roads such as Abesan Gate Road, Akowonjo Road, and the Ipaja-Ayobo axis were deserted, while shops, markets, and motor parks remained closed.
Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators also stayed off the roads in compliance with the directive issued by the Lagos State Government.
Security agencies, including officers of the Nigeria Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the Federal Road Safety Corps, were stationed at strategic locations to enforce the restriction and maintain law and order.
Residents who spoke to NAN commended the level of compliance, noting that it would help ensure a smooth electoral process.
A voter, Mrs Bosede Akinwale, said: “I am happy people are obeying the movement restriction. It shows that we are becoming more conscious of the importance of orderly elections.”
The police had earlier announced that movement would be restricted across the state from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to facilitate the conduct of the Saturday council elections in the state.
NAN reports that the LASIEC is conducting elections into 20 constitutionally recognised local government areas (LGAs) and 37 local council development areas.
The election is currently underway across the 57 council areas and 376 electoral wards in the state.
Banjoko Ibidunni became the first person to cast her vote at Ward D, Orile, in the Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area of Kosofe LGA, Lagos State, at exactly 10:28 a.m. on Saturday, well over two hours after voting was expected to begin.
“I call on all youths to come out. We cannot sit back at home and complain. Let’s exercise our civic rights,” she said in an interview with Punch Online.
Our correspondent observed that some voters only began arriving at the polling unit around 9:00 a.m., after struggling to locate it.
One of them said they had to call the ward councillor for directions due to the absence of signage or officials to guide them.
“I had to call the councillor before we could even find the polling unit,” a resident said.
Ibidunni, who had been waiting patiently for hours, finally cast her vote without incident. Electoral officers arrived late, contributing to the delayed commencement of voting.
An electoral officer at the unit told The PUNCH that they were expecting 77 registered voters at the polling unit, but only four had shown up as of 10:35 a.m., when our correspondent left the scene. There was no queue at the unit at the time.
Although the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission had assured voters of early starts across all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, late deployment of officials and materials was reported in multiple locations.
The local government elections are expected to produce chairmen and councillors who will lead grassroots governance efforts for the next term. However, low voter turnout, logistical delays, and general apathy have been recurring issues across the state.
Voting was still ongoing at Ward D as of the time this report was filed.
The late arrival of the party agents has stalled the voting processes at some polling units in the Lagos State local council election in Ketu-Agboyi on Saturday.
Also, there was a low turnout at the polls as officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission waited endlessly for registered voters to arrive.
It was gathered that the LASIEC officials arrived at the polling units early but patiently waited for the agents of the political parties for the voting exercise to commence.
At the Polling Unit 002, Ward C, situated at 21, Agidi Road, under Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, four registered voters were present while the LASIEC officials said it was only the All Progressives Congress agent who was around as at 9:00am.
The presiding officer, Mrs Stella Emmanuel said, “We’re patiently waiting for other party agents for us to start the voting exercise.”
No party agents had arrived at the PU 008, Ward A on Ajiboye Street, under Agboyi-Ketu LCDA by past 9:00 am.
The electoral commission official, Mr Adesina Akeem, noted that the absence of the party agents would negatively affect the exercise.
At the PU 028, Ward B, on 20 Oluwakemi Street, the Labour Party and APC agents have arrived, but no voters have visited to perform their civic duties.
Meanwhile, the party agents from APC and the Peoples Democratic Party were present at the PUs 030 and 050, located at numbers 20 and 6 on Fadiya Street, respectively, and on PU 052, Ward A, located at Adisa Akintoye Street.
A farm worker died on Friday after being injured during a raid by US immigration agents on a legal cannabis farm in California that resulted in the arrests of 200 undocumented migrants and clashes with protestors.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, called demonstrators involved in attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “slimeballs” and said they should be arrested.
In another development, a district judge ordered a halt to “roving patrols” in Los Angeles by federal agents who were detaining suspected undocumented migrants without probable cause and denying them due process.
District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ordered an end to the arrests, which she said were being made “based upon race alone,” on whether a person was speaking Spanish or English with an accent or because of their place of work and ordered them stopped.
Trump’s remarks and the court order come a day after a chaotic raid on a cannabis plantation in Ventura County some 56 miles (90 kilometers) from Los Angeles, left one farm worker critically injured.
The United Farm Workers labour union said in a post on X on Friday that the worker had “died of injuries they sustained as a result of yesterday’s immigration enforcement action.”
Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman, said the man who died was never in custody.
“Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet (10 meters),” McLaughlin said. “(Customs and Border Patrol) immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible.”
The DHS said 200 undocumented migrants were arrested during raids on marijuana growing sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo on Thursday, and 10 children were rescued “from potential exploitation, forced labour, and human trafficking.”
Glass House Brands, which owns the farms, said in a statement that it has “never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors.”
DHS said more than 500 “rioters” had attempted to disrupt the operation and four US citizens are facing charges for assaulting or resisting officers.
Tear gas was used against the protestors, some of whom were seen in television footage throwing projectiles at law enforcement vehicles.
The department said immigration agency vehicles were damaged and a $50,000 reward was being offered for the arrest of an individual who allegedly fired a gun at law enforcement officers.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had watched footage of “thugs” throwing rocks and bricks at ICE vehicles, causing “tremendous damage.”
Trump said he was authorising law enforcement officers who are “on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so.”
“I am giving Total Authorisation for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public,” he said.
Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to deport millions of migrants, has been involved in a showdown over immigration enforcement with Democratic-ruled California for weeks.
The Republican president sent thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles last month to quell protests against roundups of undocumented migrants by federal agents.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said the troops were not necessary to address the mostly peaceful protests, but his legal efforts to have them removed have failed so far.
The cannabis farm in Camarillo was calm during a visit by an AFP reporter on Friday as workers waited in line to collect their belongings and paychecks.
“We’ve been here since six this morning asking questions but they’re not giving us any information,” said Saul Munoz, a 43-year-old Colombian whose son was detained on Thursday.
“I just want to know how he’s doing,” Munoz said. “Bring him back to me and if it’s time for us to leave, we’ll leave.
“The truth is the American dream is no longer the American dream.”
Vehicular and pedestrian movements were brought to a halt at the Berger axis of Lagos on Saturday morning as security operatives barricaded access routes into the state ahead of the local government elections.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation, observed that scores of commuters were stranded while several vehicles were turned back at the ever-busy point at 7:32am.
Berger road is deserted. | Credit: Daniel Ayantoye
A combined team of policemen, Federal Road Safety Corps officers were seen enforcing movement restrictions.
Military personnel were also seen patrolling the route.
Security personnel at Berger area barricade vehicle movement inward Lagos. | Credit: Daniel Ayantoye
The barricade caused long queues of stationary vehicles as passengers alighted and trekked considerable distances to their destinations.
Some residents who spoke expressed frustration over the development, saying they were unaware of any movement restrictions despite the elections.
One of the passengers who approached a senior police officer at Berger said he was on his way from Port Harcourt and was unaware of the election.
“We are unaware that there was an election in the state. We are just coming from Port Harcourt. We are here for something. We are going to Ikeja”, the passenger said.
They were, however, denied access.
The Lagos State Police Command had earlier announced restrictions between 6am to 3pm to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election, which is expected to produce new officials for the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has expressed disappointment over the slow pace of work at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex project.
He described the pace of work as “grossly abysmal” and falling far below expectations.
The administrator made the remarks during an inspection tour of the project site along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, on Friday.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday night by the media aide to the Sole Administrator, Hector Igbikiowubo.
Ibas also inspected key sporting facilities, including the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, and the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, to assess their readiness for hosting sporting events.
He stated that the contractor’s performance was unacceptably slow, contrary to agreed-upon timelines.
“On the performance level right now, I think the contractor needs to do more.
“And from the reports rendered by the consultants, they are not moving fast enough, and that is not good enough.
“I am not satisfied with what I have seen. The pace of work is far below acceptable standards, and this is simply not good enough,” Ibas said.
To address the delays, the administrator directed the contractor to immediately intensify efforts and expedite work to meet the project’s deadline.
“This project is of strategic importance, and any further delays will not be tolerated.
“We must all commit to doing what is necessary to meet the expectations of the people,” he emphasised.
Ibas disclosed that he would summon the contractor for a meeting to realign efforts and ensure all parties are fully committed to delivering the project promptly.
During his inspection of sporting facilities, Ibas highlighted the outstanding performances of Rivers State youths in national and international competitions, stressing the need for modern, well-maintained infrastructure to nurture their talents.
“I just went to check and see the state of those facilities.
“We have our state’s team participating in continental tournaments, yet we have to travel outside the state for our matches.
“I am sure we can do something to ensure we benefit locally.
“That’s precisely why we are here, to see what we can do,” he stated.
The administrator reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revitalising sports infrastructure to provide athletes with world-class training facilities, keeping them competitive on the global stage.
He added, “The contractor handling the RSHA Complex project has been directed to immediately ramp up work.
“A high-level meeting will be convened to address bottlenecks and ensure compliance with agreed timelines.
“Plans are underway to upgrade sporting facilities to support local athletes and attract major sporting events to Rivers State.”
Ibas noted that the state government under his watch remains resolute in its pursuit of infrastructure excellence, accountability, and timely project delivery.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party is an institution that cannot be threatened by talks about an emerging coalition, noting that the party remains united and undivided in the South-West.
The governor said that PDP leaders in the South-West have resolved that as responsible leaders, they would stay in the party and fix whatever challenges arise, adding that the PDP would deal with its issues and come out stronger as the only credible political alternative for Nigerians.
Makinde stated this on Friday, while speaking with newsmen shortly after a meeting of the South-West PDP Caucus, held at the South-West PDP Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.
He said, “We want the whole world to know that the PDP in the South-West is united and we are together and that the coalition is not a threat to the PDP.
“Who are these people in this coalition? They were in some parties before, whether the PDP or the APC. What are their antecedents? Does it mean that anytime they move from one party to the other, they have repented or they have something new to offer the people? These are salient questions.
“This Soji Adagunodo House is for the PDP South-West. If the roof is leaking, as leaders of the PDP in the South-West, are we going to abandon the building and go somewhere else to take refuge? No.
“We will stay inside here and fix it to let the people know that we are responsible leaders and we have the interest of the people at heart.
“So, a lot of people can say whatever they like, but in a party like the PDP, which is an institution, we have our own ways and means of dealing with such issues. When we get to the point where we have to deal with such issues, I give you the assurance that we will.”
