As polls opened in Lagos State for the governorship and state assembly elections on Saturday, some voters and electoral officials arrived early at the polling units, while it was a different story in some other areas visited.
Voters in Lagos are at the polls to elect the successor of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode and 40 incoming legislators for the state house of assembly.
Supplementary elections are also holding in some federal constituencies where national assembly elections of Feb. 23 were inconclusive.
At Polling unit 45, and 40 ward 8 Alimosho local government, Egbeda, voters were seen arriving the polling unit since 6:15am.
The electoral officials arrived the polling unit with their materials at 7: 05am to meet some voters already on ground.
The electoral materials were arranged by the officials and made ready for the process at about 7:57am.
The officials enlightened electorate on the processes involved in voting and pasted the lists of the voters on the wall.
Voting commenced at 8:15am.
Accreditation and voting started at 8.20a.m. at Alimosho Local Government, Ward A polling unit 047,048 and 049.
INEC officials, party agents and few voters came out early to the polling units.
Voting commenced at 8:00am at Polling Unit 002, Ward J, Lamina Ganiyu, Alakuko, Ifako-Ijaye Lacal Government Area of Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC ad-hoc staff arrived at the polling unit at 7:15am.
NAN also observed that the Smart Card Reader was working effectively.
Mr Olabayo Olaopa, INEC Presiding Officer, addressed voters on the procedures for voting.
Olaopa showed the empty ballot box to the party agents and electorate before it was sealed for the exercise.
He announced that voting would start by 8:00am and end by 2:00pm.
NAN observed that very few voters arrived early to cast their votes.
Election materials were also available while four security operatives were on ground.
Mrs Abigail Adesanya, a 57-year-old petty trader, commended INEC for improving on the voting process.
Adesanya, who was the first person to cast her vote at 8:07am, expressed satisfaction with the process.
She told NAN that the process was faster and better than the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Feb. 23.
However, at Ward 03, Polling Unit 064, Abule-Egba/Aboru/Meiran/Alagbado, in the Alimosho Local Government Area, voting had yet to commence at 8:30 am, as officials and voting materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were yet to arrive.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other Polling Units around the area, 063 and 065 were also yet to receive voting materials while voters were seen hanging around in groups.
Also, electoral materials and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived late in some polling units at Ogudu in Kosofe Local Government Area (LGA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC officials were yet to arrive at Polling Units 044, 064, 082, 084 and 085 of Ward D, Kosofe LGA at 8.43am.
In Ward D at Ogudu, unlike the Presidential and House of Assembly elections held on Feb. 23 where voters were seen waiting for INEC officials to arrive, voters went back to their respective residences after picking numbers for a queue.
A voter, Mr Emmanuel Ossai, said: “INEC officials are late as usual, I would have been surprised if they were here early, I am going back to my house and I will return in an hour when they will be here hopefully.”
Another voter, Mrs Idowu Salami, bemoaned the late arrival of INEC materials and officials.
“We came here before 8am for accreditation and to vote but no one is here.
“I thought there would have been an improvement on punctuality today compared to the presidential elections.
Meanwhile, there was increased security presence at Ward 09, polling units 018 and 023 of Ago/Ohafia Street and Ago/Baba-Ewe Street, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area respectively, for the election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that security personnel were seen on motor bikes, in vehicles and also seated in groups.
This is unlike the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly election, where there was none and this led to snatching and burning of ballot box and papers in the area.
Meanwhile, INEC officials were seen at the units as at 8.45a.m.
NAN reports few voters were seen coming out to exercise their franchise voters, with some complaining of the late arrival of the INEC officials.
A pastor, Mr Fred Igwe, told NAN that there was need for people to change their mentality in the country concerning going to events early.
He commended the presence of security personnel seen, adding that it gave him courage that the place would be peaceful.
According to him, the presence of the security officials will give people rest of mind to be able to stay and vote.
“I am a pastor and I have changed my place of residence. I had to come and stay in the church so that I will be able to vote and now the officials are not coming early.
“I want to perform my civic responsibility and I hope others will come out because the last presidential election and the incident that happened will make people not to come out,” he said.
A business woman, Mrs Agnes Ekwe said that the presence of the security people motivated her to approach the polling unit.
According to her, she had to come out to survey the situation to know if she would come, and and seeing the officials gave her hope that she would perform her civic responsibility.
Another woman, Mrs Nkem Offor, told NAN that she was a Nigerian and would not be intimidated not to come out to vote.
“This is my right and I have to do what is right, irrespective of what transpired the other time.
“The turnout is really poor and this is not good. I pray people will come out and I have been calling my friend to come out to vote because of the security presence,” she said.