The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections in ten polling units in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) around the Lekki area of the state.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Segun Agbaje, made the announcement when he addressed reporters at the VGC.
According to him, the decision was taken after corps members deployed as ad hoc staff on Saturday were hesitant to enter the VGC estate due to security concerns.
Agbaje stated that the ad hoc staff had set up voting materials in front of the estate on Saturday but the estate residents claimed that hoodlums might disrupt the process.
As a result, the residents 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 that we should remobilize 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 affected polling units include PU 032,033, 119 -124.