The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday announced the postponement of the governorship and state assembly elections in 10 polling units in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) around the Lekki area of Lagos State.
The announcement was made by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Segun Agbaje, while addressing reporters at the VGC.
Agbaje claimed that corps members deployed as ad hoc staff on Saturday were hesitant to enter the VGC estate as they alleged that they were held hostage in the presidential election held on the 25th of February, 2023.
He further stated that the commission’s ad hoc staff set up voting materials in front of the estate on Saturday but the estate residents claimed that hoodlums might disrupt the process, so they did not feel secure and could not cast their votes.
Agbaje said the situation was difficult for security agents to contain hence he and his team had to come to the area.
He said, “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.
“After due consultation and further directive from the national headquarters that we should remobilise here tomorrow (Sunday) morning by 08:30 am to conduct the elections.
“By 08:30 am tomorrow (Sunday), we will reconvene here.”
Agbaje said the chairman of the security committee of the estate had 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”.
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