LG Elections: Youths Turn Lagos Roads into Football Fields

During Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos, football enthusiasts transformed several major roads into soccer pitches, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). 

A NAN correspondent, accompanying the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Chairman, Retired Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, and other commissioners, observed at least 14 impromptu pitches along Agege Motor Road, Alimosho Road in Iyana-Ipaja, and the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. 

The LASIEC convoy had to pause multiple times to allow youths to dismantle their temporary goalposts for the monitoring team to proceed. 

Between Mushin and Oshodi Bus Stop, at least four pitches were spotted, with another five seen between Oshodi Bus Stop and the 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.

NAN reports that some of the pitches at Oshodi were mounted very close to military checkpoints.

NAN 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 turn out, into the air from its headquarters in Sabo Yaba.