There was a low turnout of voters as the  local government election got underway  across 15 council areas in  Kwara State.

In Ilorin, the state capital, correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) monitoring the poll report that only few voters were sighted at the numerous polling units in the metropolis.

NAN observed that only the ruling PDP, the  Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party are contesting in the election.

While some  of the residents,  who spoke to NAN, attributed the development  to the scanty information on candidates vying for the various offices, others blamed it on apathy.

Polling units which, however, recorded a sizeable number of voters  were those located in the  wards  of  political appointees and leaders of parties contesting in the poll.

Many of such voters were sighted in company with party leaders, who turned out to cast their votes, while the restriction on vehicular movement was not strictly enforced.

Commercial motor cycle operators were also sighted  going about their normal businesses while some artisans opened their shops for business.

At Pake polling unit in Ilorin East Local Government, there were only a few voters as at  8.00 a.m. when accreditation and voting commenced.

Mr Muritala Ayilara, the Assistant Electoral Officer in Ilorin East Local Government,  told NAN that election materials had  been distributed to the various wards.

Ayilara, who disclosed that there were adequate voters materials for the election, said: “I expect a peaceful atmosphere today, because KWASIEC has  made available proper security  in every polling unit.”  

In   Kosubosu, headquarters of  Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara, many  residents   opted to go to their farms  rather than participate in the local government election.

NAN  discovered that as at  7 a.m., KWASIEC had already distributed electoral materials while  all polling units were opened for accreditation by 8. a.m.

The accreditation and voting exercises were conducted simultaneously with relatively poor turnout  at  some units, while others witnessed a sizeable presence of potential  voters.

NAN further observed that in spite of the restriction on vehicular movement during the election period by the state government, residents were sighted  going about their normal businesses.

Many shops were also  opened for business in most communities in  the border area.

Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, a resident of Gure, told  NAN  that residents preferred  to go to their farms  because the poll was  perceived as “a one party affair.”