Lagos bye-election: Hoodlums attack INEC officials at Mile 12
On Saturday, some hoodlums attacked INEC officials as they prepared to commence voting during Saturday’s by-election at Unit 13, Kosofe council area of Lagos State.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who was at the center, reported that the hoodlums insisted on collecting INEC officials’ money before voting could commence.
An INEC ad-hoc staff, Mrs. Monsurat Aladeloba, told NAN that they packed up their materials to relocate from the area in the midst of the chaos between some electorate and the hoodlums.
“The boys were about fighting themselves when more police officers were drafted here,” she said.
NAN reports that the situation was brought under control later after some community leaders intervened in the area.
One of the community leaders, Alhaji Gbenga Mola, told NAN that the hoodlums had been taken care of and assured the INEC officials of their safety.
Lagos Bye-election: Sanwo-Olu’s deputy, Obafemi Hamzat votes, beg residences
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hazmat, has cast his vote I the ongoing Bye-election in the state.
Hamzat cast his vote at Ward 4 Unit 002 at Oke-Balogun Central Mosque, Epe area of the state.
After casting his ballot, the deputy governor commended electorates for their peaceful conduct at his unit.
Hamzat also urged the deputy governor appealed that such peaceful conduct is replicated in other areas.
Lagos Bye-election: Epe residents stop INEC from conducting a poll over failure to give them money
Residents of Ajaganabe Square and Apena/Oloye Street in the Epe area of Lagos State on Saturday stopped ad-hoc officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from conducting the by-election in the area.
They disclosed that INEC officials failed to “settle them,” hence refusing to allow them to their job.
According to one of the residents, the participating political parties failed to give them money as they did previously.
“We did not allow them to sit down and do their job because we have not been settled. It is not just the boys that drove them away; the entire community rose in unison and sent them away,” the resident told Nation.
Lagos Bye-election: Majority Leader speaks on INEC’s conduct of the poll
Sanai Agunbiade, Majority Leader of Lagos State House of Assembly, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the conduct of the ongoing Senatorial Bye-election in the state.
Agunbiade said that INEC has significantly improved in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
He disclosed this to reporters after casting his vote at polling unit 043 at Grammar School, Aga/Ijomu area of Ikorodu.
“People are exercising their franchise peacefully, and people are obeying Social distance while voting,” the lawmaker said.
Lagos East bye-election: Atmosphere peaceful as poll commences
Voting commenced peacefully on Saturday in the Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe Constituency 2 by-elections amidst low voter turnout in the state’s affected five local government areas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the voters comported themselves in an orderly manner with adequate security while some observed COVID-19 protocols.
INEC officials reported on duty, and voting commenced at about 8:30 a.m in most polling units across Lagos East Senatorial District comprising Somolu, Kosofe, Ikorodu, Epe, and Ibeju-Lekki local government areas.
Few voters were in the queue at most polling centers visited while electoral officers adorned face masks, but few of them complied with face masks.
In Ikorodu, police officers were seen at the polling centers protecting the voters and ensuring orderliness.
NAN reports that police mounted several roadblocks along the popular Ikorodu Road to enforce the restriction of movement.
The police had earlier announced restriction of vehicular movement between 6.00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday in the affected five local government areas.
Lagos East Senatorial District and Kosofe 11 constituency residents will file out today to vote their next representatives at the National Assembly.
The battle is between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Gbadamosi Olatere Babatunde, popularly called BOG, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Tokunbo Abiru.
Recall that the State Police Command had ordered a restriction on movement between 6 am and 6 pm on Saturday for the election.
The restriction was to allow a smooth flow of the election.
However, those on election duties, essential services, and accredited domestic and foreign election observers can move about.
The Local Governments Areas affected include the two legislative seats Epe, Ibeju Lekki, Kosofe, and Somolu.
