Voters in parts of Ikoyi and Obalende in Lagos were left waiting on Saturday morning as electoral officers from the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) failed to arrive on time for the local government elections.
As of 8:50am, many polling units along Awolowo Road in Ikoyi were empty, with only a few early voters patiently waiting for the arrival of election staff. At Polling Unit 29, near the Federal Service Club, just one party agent was present, also waiting for LASIEC officials to show up.
A similar scene played out in the Obalende area, where by 9:15am, some young residents had taken to the streets to play football. Security officers later arrived to clear makeshift goalposts and restore order, urging the youths to allow the election process to take place.
While delays were reported in several polling units, there was some progress in parts of Obalende. At polling stations on Odo Street and Igbo Street, LASIEC officials and party agents were seen setting up and preparing for the day’s exercise.
Security presence was strong around Awolowo Road and the Berger end of Lagos Island, as officers patrolled the area to ensure safety and compliance with the movement restrictions in place for the elections.
More updates to follow.
