Low turnout, tight security as INEC holds election to replace Gbaja

There is generally low turnout of voters as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts by-election into Surulere Federal Constituency 1 even as the election is taking place amidst tight security.

The election is being conducted to replace the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila who vacated the seat after his appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

Our correspondent who monitored the election in parts of the constituency reports that there is low turnout of voters in all the areas visited.

From Akerele to Alhaji Masa, Mercy Enelli, among others, there was low turnout of voters in all the polling units visited.

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Even though the electoral officers arrived early for the exercise, as of 11 am, most polling units were not with voters.

At Junction of Laboye Laleye PU 036 Adeniran Ogunsanya, there was no voter on ground when our correspondent visited.

One of the election officials said the voters were still coming “in trickles”.

However, there is tight security in Surulere at the moment with mobile police, military personnel and DSS officials taking over strategic points in Surulere.

Also there is restriction of vehicular movement while those on election duties were allowed to freely move around.

Gbajabiamila, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives who vacated the seat cast his vote around 11 pm at his Elizabeth Fowler Memorial Primary School Polling Unit, Mercy Enelli Street.

He hailed the conduct of the election.