LG poll: Lagos imposes restriction on movement

LAGOS State government has announced restriction of vehicular movement in the state on Saturday July 22, 2017 in view of election holding across the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the state.

This was just as the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, called on Lagosians to perform their civic obligations by trooping out with their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to once again demonstrate their belief in the tenets of participatory democracy and the importance of development at the local government level.

The State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, made this announcement on Sunday in a press release made available to newsmen, saying the restriction would be enforced between 8am and 2pm on Saturday July 22.

He said the state government took the decision in order to allow for a smooth conduct of the polls and unhindered participation.

The commissioner, while saying that Lagos State was known for peaceful conduct of elections, urged residents to be peaceful and orderly on Saturday to cast their votes in their respective wards for chairmen and councilors who were expected to drive development at the third tier of government.

While explaining that the poll exercise was expected to bring on board a new set of public officers for the next four years at the local government level, Ayorinde said the restriction would allow the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) and the security agencies to distribute electoral materials in good time and ensure the sanctity of free and fair electoral process.

Speaking further, the commissioner said the police and other security agencies were ready to ensure that the electioneering campaign and the voting on Saturday were conducted smoothly without public disturbance.

He, therefore, assured every political party, candidates and their supporters as well as the general public of safety throughout the period of voting and collation.

“The police and other security agencies are ready to ensure that the electioneering campaign and the voting on Saturday are conducted smoothly without public disturbance.

“Every political party, candidates and their supporters and the general public are hereby assured of safety throughout the period of voting and collation.

“However, the government solicits the cooperation of voters and the general public by obeying the restriction order and the general electoral rules in order to ensure a peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections,” Ayorinde said.