*Voters Lament Late Arrival At PUs In Ikeja
*Journalist Laments Intimidation
Voters in Oshodi, Mushin, Surulere yesterday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for early arrival at polling units. They also commended on the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), they said BVAS made positive contribution compared to card readers.
But voters in Ikeja, Ogba and some parts of Oshodiwitnessed late arrival of INEC officials.
Voters lamented intimidation by men who were allegedly working for the Chairman of Lagos Park, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
A raving mob of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters allegedly attacked a reporter with Peoples Gazette, Adebola Ajayi while she was on election duty in Church Street, Oshodi Lagos.
Ajayi said her phone was confiscated shortly after snapping photographs and filming where the rampaging thugs were terrorising polling centres.
She said: “After deleting the photos and videos from my phone, they also forcibly accessed my cloud storage to also delete the materials there.
She said a police officer who was at the scene was helpless during the assault.
Speaking with The Guardian at PU 012, Brown Street, Oshodi, Lagos, Mustapha Bakare said: “The exercise is going smoothly, and people turned out and voting started early. I am happy there is peace, BVAS is working perfectly. Party agents are relating well, helping voters who don’t know where to vote to locate their unit.
Also, Owolabi Toye who spoke at PU 042, Mushin, said: “INEC officials were here early. Our people turned out early. We hope for a good outcome.
However, there was late arrival of INEC officials in Kodeso Lane, Ikeja PU 019 and O20. The officers arrived at the unit exactly 10:08a.m. The official arrived at 047, Ikeja at 10:26a.m. The INEC officials at the units said they experienced difficulties getting the materials from INEC office.
A voter, Ade Sofola at PU 019, Kodeso Ikeja said: “I got here by 8:50a.m and INEC arrived at 10:08a.m and the officials were struggling to set up. I hope people turn out to vote and the outcome is the reflection of Nigerians’ will. “Everybody is fed up, Nigeria is not working and we need to be part of the solution.
She added: “My fear about this election is that the old guard doesn’t understand the level of frustration that exist in Nigeria.
Speaking with The Guardian at PU 042, Mushin, an Observer with Liberty Derivative Culture Initiative, Comrade Ajayi Popoola commended INEC for early arrival at polling units visited. He said: “People came out early to exercise their franchise and BVAS shows a big difference. Unlike before when we had issues with card readers. The area is very calm and I think we are going to have a remarkable outcome representing the wishes of the people. People came out early because they are more aware and INEC should be commended on that.
INEC official arrived at 11:01a.m in Sogunle/Alasia area. A voter said the voters were left frustrated while waiting for the officials.
A voter in Ogba said the officials of the INEC arrived the area late but the atmosphere was peaceful. “Electorates voted in a peaceful atmosphere but some of them flash their paper to a political party agent to show who they voted for.
Meanwhile, there was a drama in PU 049, Alausa Central Mosque, Lagos as INEC official took the material meant for the unit to PU 043 and commenced voting. All efforts by voters to convince the officials were abortive until The Guardian visited the place. The officials left for the right poling unit after intervention and commenced voting past 1.p.m.
A voter, Osas Faloye, said: “I registered to vote at PU 049, Alausa, and we were there by 8. am. but no official at the unit, the APC agent assigned to the PU told us that the INEC officials mistakenly went to Alausa Secretariat Central Mosque.
