Nigeria through its electoral body the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC conducted its 2023 Gubernatorial elections across 29 states of the federation.

The seven (7) states that did not participate in the Gubernatorial elections include Edo, Anambra, Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun.

In Lagos, there were reports of violence and intimidation of voters in some parts of Kosofe, Eti-Osa, Surulere, and Alimosho Local Government Areas. 

Rivers, Kaduna, Enugu, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta and Bayelsa are among the States that experienced voters' apathy, intimidation of voters and violence in several polling units.

Observer groups like the Situation Room, YIAGA, ActionAid Nigeria and Connected Development condemned the spate of violence and decried the poor turnout of voters.

Residents of Victoria Garden City with 10 polling units in Eti-Osa Local Government area, did not exercise their civic responsibility because of an adjustment by the Independent National Election in Lagos State, that was not officially communicated.

IK Osakioduwa a renowned compere, media personality and resident in VGC area in an interview with WebTV, said the INEC Lagos office adjusted the accreditation/voting exercise plan without prior notification.

According to him instead of voting inside their estate, INEC scheduled voting outside their gate on the Lekki-Epe expressway reducing the number of polling units to three(3). This from his perspective was risky, considering the need to secure a community of over 2,000 people and called on the electoral body to maintain the rule of law.

Mr. Ayuli Jemide Founder of Commercial Law Firm Detail Solicitors and Elizabeth Izediwa who also shared their views described the actions of the electoral body, as a major concern for an inclusive political process.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for INEC, Lagos state was on ground to assess the situation and after meeting with the residents, announced the postponement of the elections in the VGC area.

Speaking further on the issues of electoral violence and voter apathy, Alibaba Akpobome a creative industry entrepreneur who voted at the Adeyemi Lawson polling unit 026, Ikoyi, also condemned the acts of voter intimidation in the country. He believed the absence of the Electoral Offences Commission is emboldening people to perpetuate violence in the country.

Mrs. Chioma Okoye a retired civil servant, who voted in the Lekki Phase 1 believed citizens have the right to vote who they want into the Gubernatorial and House of Assembly positions, without intimidation. She called for major steps to curb the spate of electoral violence in the country.

The Co-Founder Caladium Lagos SME Bootcamp Mr. Ayo-Bankole Akintujoye who voted at Lekki Phase 1 polling unit 012 noted that the process was seamless in terms of accreditation and voting, but the turnout was poor due to voter intimidation and cultural activities that clashed with the election timetable.

This reinforces the need for the Executive arm of the Federal Government to work with the Legislature, to constitute the ‘Electoral Offences Commission’ to prosecute perpetrators of violence during elections and the need for INEC to improve its processes to restore confidence and woo more voters in future elections.