Security concerns: INEC postpones guber, state assembly polls in 10 Lagos polling units

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the governorship and state assembly elections in 10 polling units in Victoria Garden City (VGC) estate in Lagos state.

Announcing the development at a media briefing in VGC on Saturday, Segun Agbaje, INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC) in the state, said corps members deployed as ad-hoc electoral officers to the area alleged that they were held hostage during the presidential and national assembly elections.

He said the corp members were, therefore, reluctant to enter VGC.

Agbaje said the commission had then instructed that ad-hoc staff set up their canopies and voting materials in front of the estate.

He said the residents, however, claimed that they did not feel secure due to the concerns about hoodlums disrupting the process.

“We have eight polling units here with 6,024 registered voters and out of which 5,624 people have their PVCs,” he said.

He added adding that two other polling units at the estate’s main gate were also affected.

“So I had to inform the commission of what is happening here and after due consultation and further directive from the national headquarters, that we should remobilise here tomorrow (Sunday) morning by 8:30am to conduct the elections,” he said.

“By 8:30am tomorrow (Sunday), we will reconvene here.”

Agbaje also said the chairperson 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.