* Fresh balloting scheduled for Sunday
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly elections in 10 polling units in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) around the Lekki area of Lagos State.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Segun Agbaje, disclosed this when he addressed Journalists at the estate.
According to him, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed as ad hoc staff on Saturday were hesitant to enter the VGC estate after the residents allegedly held them hostage during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
Agbaje said the Commission’s ad hoc staff set up voting materials in front of the estate on Saturday but the residents claimed that hoodlums might disrupt the process, so they did not feel secure and could not cast their votes.
He said the situation was difficult for security agents to contain hence he and his team had to come to the area.
“We have eight polling units here with 6,024 registered voters and out of which 5,624 people have their PVCs,” he stated, adding that two other polling units at the estate’s main gate were also affected.
“Eight here (in the estate) and two outside,” he noted.
“After due consultation and further directive from the National headquarters, we should remobilise here tomorrow (Sunday) morning by 08:30am to conduct the elections.
“By 08:30am tomorrow (Sunday), we will reconvene here.”
Agbaje said the chairman of the security committee of the estate has assured the commission of the safety of corps members and INEC staff as well as the safety of voters.
Some of the polling units affected include PU 032,033, 119 -124.
The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Tunde Doherty, whose polling unit is in the VGC, scolded INEC for poor arrangement, saying the situation is “unfortunate”.