APC CANDIDATE EMERGES WINNER OF COUNCILLORSHIP BY-ELECTION IN BARIGA LCDA

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Olufemi Nurudeen Sowande, has been declared as the winner of the councillorship by-election conducted by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) into Ward C (Owode-Orile) in Bariga Local Council Development Area of the State.

The winner scored 1,442 votes while his only opponent and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr. Azeez Sunkanmi Taiwo scored 286 votes in the election.

While monitoring the election in some polling units, an Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Ayedun, expressed dissatisfaction at the low voter turnout for the election, noting that despite the fact that the Commission embarked on sensitisation of stakeholders for effective participation in the election, it was disappointing that many eligible voters in the area refused to cast their votes.

Ayedun who spoke in the companyof other LASIEC Commissioners, however, pointed out that the voter apathy experienced during the exercise was a reflection of what is obtainable across the country.

He, therefore, enjoined the various registered political parties and other stakeholders to complement the efforts of Electoral Commissions in the country by sensitising eligible voters to show more interest in the electoral process and vote for candidates of their choice during elections.

The by-election was peaceful as security personnel were deployed to all polling units and the collationcentre for the election.

Recall that the Councillorship seat in the affected Ward became vacant following the death of the former Councillor representing the Ward, Mr. Solomon Awokoya, a fewmonths ago.