11th April, 2015
The turnout of voters for accreditation in Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly polls was not as huge at some polling units around Agidingbi, Ojodu and Ifako Ijaiye in Lagos, western Nigeria, as that of the 28 March presidential and National Assembly elections.
Our correspondent who monitored the exercise observed that as early as 10:30am accreditation had almost been completed at some polling units.
Those who queued for accreditaion at Unit 35 at Agidingbi Grammar School were not as many as those who took part in the exercise in the presidential election two weeks ago.
Rather than spend about three hours on the queue for accreditation as was the case two weeks ago, most voters spent less than 30 minutes to get accredited.
Some of the voters had to undergo manual accreditation when the card readers malfunctioned.
The exercise went on smoothly at Unit 15, Junction of Ishola Bello/New Isheri Road beside Omole Estate and Unit 007, Yaya Abatan Road where almost everybody had been accredited when our correspondent got there.
There were card reader challenges at Unit 11, Odozi Street, Ojodu. The card readers were not functioning and agitated voters engaged officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in a shouting match at about 10:09am.
It was also a rowdy scene at Unit 008, Kosoko in Ojodu Berger where only card reader out of the three at the unit was functioning when our correspondent went there.
The polling unit was so rowdy that there was no discernible queue as everybody was jostling to be accredited manually at the same.
Security was also tight as policemen patrolled the streets in their vehicles and commuter buses.
Soldiers were seen manning the roundabout at Agege Pen Cinema where they barricaded a section of the road and allowed motorists to pass after they had identified themselves.