Voter Apathy: Young Residents Express Doubts About Electoral Process

LAGOS, Nigeria- Despite appeals for civic engagement from election officials and stakeholders during the ongoing local government elections in Lagos, some young residents in Alausa, Ikeja, opted for football instead of voting.

Throughout the peak voting hours of 9am to 2pm on Saturday, groups of youths were spotted at various locations in Alausa, engaged in football matches rather than going to polling stations.

Upon being questioned, many stated their lack of faith in the electoral process as the reason for their absence from the polls.

“You can’t force me to vote. I’d rather play football, so why should I vote?” remarked Ayomikun Ola, one of the young men.

Another youth, Opeyemi Omoemi, bluntly stated, “We all know that the APC always wins, so there’s no point in me getting worked up over it.” Wasiu, also playing nearby, expressed, “There’s no need for me.

I prefer football to voting.” Bayo, who participated in the game, explained his situation: “I haven’t turned 18 yet, which is why I didn’t vote. Playing football is the best option for me.”

A young woman named Seriki Ganiyat, tending to her shop customers, explained that she couldn't leave her business to participate in the election. “It’s not necessary.

I have children to provide for. What if I leave my shop to vote? What will my children eat tonight?” she questioned.

Their perspectives highlight a larger trend of low voter turnout and widespread disengagement seen across many polling stations.

At Polling Unit 003, Ward 7, only 61 out of 1,000 registered voters had participated by 1:05pm. Similarly, at PU 007 in the same ward, only 30 voters had cast their ballots by 1pm, while PU 031 recorded just four voters out of 29 by 1:12pm.

At PU 026, merely one voter showed up from a pool of 21 registered voters. PU 027 saw only five votes from 62 registered voters by 1:43pm. In Ward F, PU 011 had 45 voters turn out from a total of 908, and PU 085 had no votes cast at all by 1:45pm, despite four registered voters.

At Ward C, PU 004, with 913 registered voters, logged only 30 ballots as of 1:47pm, while Ward F's PU 036 had just 50 out of 986 voters by 1:51pm.