29th March, 2015
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has failed to hold the rescheduled election in some parts of Oshodi area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, where elections did not hold on Saturday.
As at 4:00pm on Sunday, INEC officials had not shown up to conduct the rescheduled election in 28 polling units in Oshodi.
Residents, however, waited endlessly for them to come, vowing that they must cast their votes.
At polling units 054 and 055 on Salami Street, residents complained bitterly that INEC officials refused to show up to hold the election.
Police officers were also tired as they were also waiting for INEC officials from morning.
At 056, Akiodu Street, INEC officials were still being expected as at 3.00pm with frustration written on the faces of residents who were eager to cast their votes.
The same goes for Polling Unit 060 on Abdulrasak Street where the officials had not reported as at 4.00pm.
INEC officials have also not arrived at Agbalaya Street, Ishola Daniel, Lawanson and some areas in Oshodi for the rescheduled election.
A Community Development Association, CDA, chairman in the area said there were 28 polling units which INEC failed to conduct election on Saturday, saying that even on Sunday, there was no presence of the officials in any of the units.
According to an electorate, Fatai Smith at polling unit 055, “we have been here since morning and INEC officials have not come. On Saturday, we were here from morning till evening and they did not come. People even left the church to vote but they can’t vote as INEC officials have not come.”
Another electorate lamented that he and others had been waiting for INEC officials since morning to no avail as no information has come from them as to why they had not arrived as at 3:00pm.
According to Alhaja Kudirat Fasawe, “we are not happy. I have been here since 8.00am and INEC officials have not turned up. They must come and hold this election.”
Also speaking, Sulaiman Williams lamented that he had made effort to cast his vote but could not do so because INEC officials have failed to come and conduct tje election, saying that they would not accept the results of the elections because they were disenfranchised.
However, elections held in some parts of Kosofe, Somolu and Eti-Osa where polls did not hold on Saturday.
Also, election held in Egbe area and other neighbouring environments as people trooped out to cast their votes.