Some hoodlums accosted INEC officials as they prepared to commence voting during Saturday’s by-election at Unit 13, Kosofe council area of Lagos State.
The hoodlums insisted on collecting money from INEC officials before voting could commence.
An INEC ad-hoc staff, Mrs Monsurat Aladeloba, said that the hoodlums got to the unit about 8:37 a.m, brandishing dangerous weapons.
The INEC ad-hoc staff packed up their materials so as to relocate from the area in the midst of the confrontation between some electorate and the hoodlums.
“The boys were about fighting themselves when more police officers were drafted here,” she said.
The situation was later brought under control about 10 a.m. following intervention of some community leaders in the area.
One of the community leaders, Alhaji Gbenga Mola, said that the hoodlums had been taken care of and assured the INEC officials of their safety.
“There will be no problem here. I have talked to the boys. Election is holding here,” he said.
Voting later commenced at 10.15 a.m.
Meanwhile, an All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Femi Saheed, contesting for Kosofe Constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, commended the peaceful conduct of the election in the area.
Saheed, who voted at Unit 003, Aina Road, Kosofe, at about 10.28 a.m, commended INEC for the logistics.
Unlike in Ojota/Ogudu areas where there was voter apathy, there was massive voter turnout at Agility in Mile 12 area of Lagos.
Meanwhile, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor, Lagos State, on Saturday, appealed to voters in the Lagos East Senatorial by-election to come out and vote wisely.
Hamzat gave the advice while addressing journalists at his Polling Unit 002 at Ward A4 in Oke-Balogun, Epe.
He said: “As you can see, I have exercised my franchise by voting. I implore other registered voters to do same.
“Voting has commenced, others should come out to vote. I am sure more people will still come out to vote, ” he said.
Hamzat made the appeal as voter apathy characterised the by-election in some areas including, Epe, Somolu and Ikorodu.
Many voters showed no interest in the election as they went about their businesses in spite of movement restriction.
A commercial motorcyclist, Mr Shehu Abdullahi, said in Shomolu that he needed to earn his daily bread.
He said that the election was not his priority.
Abdullahi called on elected leaders to fulfill their election campaigns and be more responsive to the plights of citizens.
Mr Christopher Nweke, a PDP agent at Polling Unit 028, Somolu/Apata said that he and some others had to go to houses, appealing to voters to come and vote.
“It is peaceful but the turnout is very poor. We have not seen much people here, we even went to their houses to call them, to beg them,” he said.
Alhaji Fatai Bakare, an election observer at Onipanu Polling Unit 001, also said that many voters failed to turn out.
Bakare, however, said that the election had been peaceful.
He called on members of the electorate to continue to be law-abiding.
“They said there would be no movement but movement is going on now; nobody cares, everybody goes where he sells or buys.
“I wish every candidate goodluck.
“If two people compete for something, one has to be the winner.
“We will jubilate with the winner, the loser should take heart,´´ he said.
At Shomolu Local Government Area, INEC officials arrived with election materials as at 8:30a.m., while security agents were seen at all the polling units.
Motorists and motorcycle operators were seen on the Apata Road, Palmgroove, Ijeshatedo, Ijebutedo, Onipanu, Alade Street and Fadipe Street, carrying passengers to different destinations.
Few filling stations were selling fuel to motorists and others while some traders were selling their goods during election hours.
Our correspondents visited Apata PU003 and 004, Onipanu PU001, Durojaiye PU 008, Palmgroove/Ijebutedo PU002, PU007 and PU008.
The others polling units include Apata/Fadipe PU028, PU029 and 034 and Alade PU003.
Some commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators were seen operating freely in some parts of Ikorodu in spite of the restriction on movement during Saturday’s Lagos-East by-elections.
The Lagos State Police Command had on December 4, announced restriction of movement in Somolu, Kosofe, Epe, Ikorodu, and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Areas for the Lagos-East by-elections.
The police said that the restriction, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m, however, exempted essential workers and students writing West Africa School Certificate Examinations (WASCE).
But, commercial vehicles were seen picking passengers and stranded passengers in various parts of Ikorodu.
A visit to Ota/Ona and Ikorodu Roundabout showed that there were no mounted road blocks by security personnel, which was the usual practise during elections in Ikorodu.
Commuters were seen waiting for vehicles at the garage, with few motorcyclists picking passengers to Agric, Ebute, Erunwen, Itamaga, Sabo, among other locations, while the polls lasted.
Private car owners were seen moving freely within the town, while some pedestrians were seen walking to their polling centres and others heading to various locations.
Mr Tunde Biyi, a commercial motorcyclist, said that 100 per cent compliance to restriction of movement wasn’t possible.
“People will need to move around whether to their polling centres or other locations, we are here to make it easy for them,” he said.
Food vendors were also seen hawking beans, bread, while some shops within streets opened to conduct their usual business activities.
The ambiance within Ikorodu during the poll was generally peaceful, with many residents indoor, while security personnel ensured the smooth conduct of the election.
