Bye-elections: Low turnout observed in Lagos as voting commences

The bye-election in Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State, kicked off with early arrival of election materials.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC officials were seen at polling units as early as 7:30 am, with voting starting almost simultaneously at the polling units at 8 am.

NAN reporters monitoring the election observed low turnout of voters as at the time of filing the report.

At the voting unit of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, voting began at 8:30 am.

Accreditation and voting simultaneously began at 8:30 am at Polling Unit 014, Ward G3, at Elizabeth Fowler Memorial Primary School, Surulere and voters were seen exercising their civic duty.

NAN also reports that voting materials arrived at the polling unit at 7:38 am.

Voting for the House of Representatives By-election for Surulere constituency 1, Polling Unit 30A, at State Junior Grammar School (Special), Itolo Street, Eric Moore, Surulere, started at 8:00 am, as INEC agents arrived on time to set up the unit.

The unit, which is the venue where the former governor of Lagos state, Mr Babatunde Fashola is expected to vote, saw voters trickling in.
Voting also started peacefully and early at the Gbaja Stadium Surulere.

Voting started by 8:00 am at unit 20, Ward 6 Onitolo Community High School, Gbaja/Stadium Surulere in Lagos, with 624 registered voters.
Miss Aishat Oyedun, the Presiding Officer said that the turnout of voters is encouraging, though the total turnout would be known at the end of the election.

Also at Unit 021, Mr Adegoke Ejomaje, the Assistant Presiding Officer 1, at Gbaja/Stadium Unit 021, Ward 06, said the election was peaceful but the turnout had not been massive as at 9 am.
Ejomaje said the election began at 8:30 am with electorate on ground to cast their votes.

“We believe with time, people will come out en- masse to cast their votes.

“There are no challenges here at all, all the voting materials are intact and the security personnel are on ground to secure and protect the terrain, though there’s no problem at all,” he said.

Also, voting commenced at 8:00 am on the dot at Ward 8, Adeniran Ogunsanya, PU 19, PU 026, PU 25, and PU 027, with accreditation and voting going on simultaneously.

NAN reports that there was heavy presence of security personnel, including the army and Police at various points in the constituency and the polling units.

NAN recalls that 12 political parties are taking part in the election.

The seat became vacant following the resignation of Gbajabiamila, who resigned after he was appointed Chief of Staff to the President.