The headquarters of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) in Yaba witnessed tight security on Saturday as the state conducted its local government elections.
A political correspondent at the LASIEC office reported a strong presence of security personnel, including a commendable number of police officers stationed at the premises.
Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) were also present, positioned in their respective operational vans.
Vehicular movement on the street leading to the LASIEC office was restricted, with roadblocks mounted at both ends to control access and ensure order.
Elsewhere in Badagry, similar security measures were observed, with personnel from the Nigeria Police, NSCDC, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) deployed to maintain peace and order.
There was high compliance with the restriction of movement in the Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state as voters were peaceful in their conduct.
The usually bustling streets of Mosan-Okunola, located in the Alimosho area, were quiet as of 9:00 a.m., with only security personnel, electoral officials, and a few accredited observers seen moving around.
Major roads such as Abesan Gate Road, Akowonjo Road, and the Ipaja-Ayobo axis were deserted, while shops, markets, and motor parks remained closed.
Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators also stayed off the roads in compliance with the directive issued by the Lagos State Government.
Security agencies, including officers of the Nigeria Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Federal Road Safety Corps, were stationed at strategic locations to enforce the restriction and maintain law and order.
Residents who spoke to NAN commended the level of compliance, noting that it would help ensure a smooth electoral process.
A voter, Mrs Bosede Akinwale, said: “I am happy people are obeying the movement restriction. It shows that we are becoming more conscious of the importance of orderly elections.”
The police had earlier announced that movement would be restricted across the state from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to facilitate the conduct of the Saturday council elections in the state.
LASIEC is conducting elections into 20 constitutionally recognised local government areas (LGAs) and 37 local council development areas .
The election is currently underway across the 57 council areas and 376 electoral wards in the state.
LG polls: Youths mount football pitches on Lagos roads
Meanwhile, football-loving youths on Saturday converted major roads in many parts of Lagos to soccer pitches as the state’s council election was ongoing.
A correspondent covering the election sighted no fewer than 14 pitches on Agege Motor Road, Alimosho Road in Iyana-Ipaja and Lagos- Abeokuta Expressway.
The correspondent, who was on the entourage of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Chairman, Retired Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, and other commissioners, noted that the convoy was forced to stop at different points to allow the youths to remove their makeshift goal posts before proceeding with the monitoring.
Between Mushin and Oshodi Bus-Stop, no fewer than four pitches were seen while no fewer than five were also sighted between Oshodi Bus-Stop and Bolade-Oshodi area.
Similarly, between Dopemu Bus-Stop and Iyana-Ipaja Bus-Stop on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, there were no fewer than six football pitches.
Some of the pitches at Oshodi were mounted very close to military checkpoints. It was also observed that no fewer than 60 youths were playing football at Oyewole High School at Orile-Agege LCDA, which has three polling units.
Only 21 had voted at two of the polling units, with a total 1,240 registered voters, as at 11.30 a.m.
Also, only 65 out the 742 registered voters had voted at PU 014, located at Oyewole Alaagba in Orile-Agege.
The polling unit was directly opposite the Constituency Office of the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa.
The LASIEC Chairman had on Thursday said that the commission had done a lot to sensitise residents on the need to turn out for the exercise.
To further sensitise residents to vote, LASIEC on Saturday released balloon aircraft ,with inscriptions urging voter turnout, into the air from its headquarters in Sabo, Yaba.
LG poll: Police mount scanty roadblocks in Lagos
The police in Lagos on Saturday mounted only a few roadblocks in parts of the state as residents came out to vote in the 57 local government elections.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) is conducting elections across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs).
The poll is expected to produce 57 council chairmen and 376 councillors.
Contrary to previous election day security practices, NAN correspondents observed that police did not mount roadblocks along major corridors like the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, from Toll Gate in Ogun to Ikeja in Lagos.
Similarly, no police checkpoints were observed on major roads in Agege, Ogba, Ikeja, Mushin, and other areas.
The popular Ikorodu Road, Airport Road, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oba Akran Road, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, Acme Road, Lateef Jakande Road, Awolowo Way, and Ojuelegba were also devoid of roadblocks as of 8:00 a.m.
As at 7:30 a.m., the presence of security operatives was minimal in many of these areas.
Commercial activities were still ongoing at Ile Epo Market in Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA as of 7:00 a.m., as well as in the busy Ojuelegba area in Surulere Local Government Area.
However, police were seen preparing to set up a roadblock using tyres under the Awolowo Bridge in Ikeja at about 7:21 a.m.
Meanwhile, shops and complexes in the ever-busy Computer Village in Ikeja remained shut as of 7:25 a.m.
A group of about 20 youths of voting age were seen playing football in Ilupeju, Mushin LGA