Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Saturday cast his vote in the Local Government Election at a polling unit located on Elizabeth Fowler Street, Surulere Local Government Area, Lagos.
Mr. Gbajabiamila arrived at the polling unit—home to 669 registered voters—at 12:28 PM, accompanied by aides, supporters, and government officials. His arrival was marked by heightened security presence around the vicinity.
After casting his ballot, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives addressed journalists, commending the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for creating what he described as a level playing field for all candidates to showcase their popularity.
“The process has been peaceful, free, and fair. I believe the commission has done well in terms of logistics and transparency,” he said.
Mr. Gbajabiamila, however, expressed concern about the low voter turnout, calling on citizens to take greater interest in local elections which he described as critical to grassroots development.
On the issue of political alliances, Mr. Gbajabiamila noted that the recent adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by a coalition of opposition parties reflects a healthy democracy.
“Nigeria is not a one-party state. The emergence of opposition coalitions is a positive step toward deepening our democratic culture,” he added.
Speaking on the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy issued a year ago, the Chief of Staff described the matter as a work in progress, noting that full implementation would take time as both federal and state actors continue to refine the framework.
Party agents, election observers, and security officials were also present at the polling unit to monitor proceedings.
Reporting by Taoreed Abdullahi