- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Local Government election has kicked off as restrictions on vehicular movement takes effect today, Saturday.
NPO Reported the state’s Police Command’s announcement of the restriction which was initially slated to commence from 3am to 3pm.
This would however be reviewed on Friday with the restriction time adjusted to 6am and will be lifted by 3pm.
Also ahead of the election, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had in a statement issued yesterday called for massive turnout of eligible voters as he harped on the need for democratic participation at the local level.
The governor assured residents and voters of adequate security across all polling units.
He urged political actors and other stakeholders to ensure good conduct from their supporters.
The Lagos council election is slated to hold across all the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA).
While the election is set to officially commence by 9am, NPO Reports has observed that streets across Lagos are currently deserted with the exception of few people on essential services.
As observed in some busy areas in Ikorodu, several shops and business centres are under locks and keys with few people seen on the road.
An election observer, Ayodele Peter, told NPO Reports correspondent that commercial vehicles plying the road are only taking passengers to their respective polling units as at 8am.
According to him, the ever-busy Lagos-Shagamu Road along Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) community was a shadow of its former self as there wasno vehicular movement with several shops locked and few people spotted along the road.
As observed by our correspondent who moved through Ogba, Iju Agege and parts of Ikeja in the early hours of Saturday, few shops were opened especially those offering services such as sale of foods and snacks.
Election officials were also arriving at some polling units as at the time of filing this report.
More details later…