#LagosLGpolls-
Downpour which began at 5a.m. in many parts of Lagos State left many areas
flooded and affected early commencement of voting in the local
government polls
in many areas.
The rain,
accompanied with thunderstorms, lasted for more than two hours, confining many
residents to their apartments early in the day, until it later subsided.
The flooding
of the roads compelled road users to drive against traffic in some areas as
people rushed to beat the 7a.m. restriction of movement time.
At the
Berger end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway, many motorists trying to get out of
Lagos, apart from contending with the rain, were caught up in the restriction
of movement time which took off at 7.ooa.m, causing a heavy traffic gridlock.
In Badagry,
only few voters were at some polling units where security personnel, electoral
officers and materials were on ground by 8a.m..
At Polling
Units 007, 008 and 009 in Ward A, Badagry Local Government, voters were seen by
8a.m, while at Polling Unit 8 in Ward B, few voters got accredited and began
voting by 8.25a.m. .
Only two
voters were at Polling Unit 007 in Ward D at 8.30am.
Mrs Verona
Chike, the Polling Officer in the unit blamed the low turnout on the downpour.
“I am sure
that more voters will come out as soon as the rain stops,” she said.
However, in
some areas of Ikotun/ Igando Local Council Development Area, electoral officers
and materials had yet to arrive as at 9.30a.m, with only agents of political
parties at some poling units visited by then.
In Ward B,
Unit 005, on Apapa Road, in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, electoral
officers arrived at 9.25 a.m. shortly after the rain stopped in the area.
In the
Alimosho Local Government, NAN correspondent reports that the premises of the
Alimosho Local Government Secretariat was a beehive of activities as several
commercial buses were being still loaded with electoral materials and officials
at 9:30 am.
It was
observed that vehicles carrying the materials escorted by security operatives
began filing out of the LG compound which doubles as the LASIEC secretariat at
9:45 am.
Mr Bakare
Olagoke, the Electoral Officer of the Alimosho Local Government branch of the
Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) told NAN that the rain
delayed the process.
“We are
leaving now. It is heavy rain and only God saved us that the communication mast
did not fall on our office or anyone because the rain was too heavy,” he said.
Lagos
residents are at the polls to elect chairmen and councillors in the 20 Local
Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state. (NAN)
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