The Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement (OPL&CE) recently brought its voter advocacy campaign to Ikeja Local Government with a powerful one-day sensitisation and engagement session.
EpeInsights reports that the event brought together stakeholders from various segments of the community; market leaders, youth groups, artisans, interfaith organisations and local government officials all united by a common goal: to build a more informed, involved, and responsible electorate.
Speaking on behalf of the Special Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Afolabi Tajudeen,at the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat, the venue of the event, the Director of the Civic Engagement Department, Dr. Babatunde Omotayo, delivered a strong message that democracy isn’t a spectator sport.
“This initiative is part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision where the electorate are no longer passive observers but active shapers of governance,” he said.
“Your vote is your voice. Choosing not to vote is choosing silence. Let’s be ambassadors of civic engagement and take this message back to our streets, markets, churches, mosques, and homes.”

A key highlight of the event was a lecture by Mrs. Ola Dawodu, Deputy Director of the Voter Education Department at LASIEC. She underscored the crucial link between informed citizens and successful democracies.
According to her, voter turnout especially at the grassroots remains low due to a lack of awareness about the electoral process. “We need continuous, community-based voter education,” she emphasized.
“When people understand the system, they are more likely to participate and hold their leaders accountable.”
Mrs. Dawodu also addressed concerns about voter disenfranchisement due to relocation or unprocessed voter card transfers.
She assured attendees that LASIEC is collaborating with INEC to resolve these issues and urged voters to stay informed by checking their names on the voter registers now being displayed at various wards across the state.
Among those who voiced their support for the initiative was the Iyaloja General of Ikeja Local Government, Mrs. Adiat Apena. She praised the Lagos State Government and OPL&CE for bringing such a timely and essential message to the grassroots, promising to share the knowledge gained at future community meetings.

The event also featured participation from the Youth Parliament, Youth Council, the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), and senior officials from both OPL&CE and LASIEC.
This campaign isn’t just about encouraging people to vote it’s about changing the narrative around political participation.
It’s about reminding citizens that their voices matter, not just during elections, but in the everyday governance of their communities.