Election: Okada riders defy movement restriction in Lagos
Some motorcycle riders popularly known as ‘Okada’ on Saturday defied movement restriction along Liasu Ikotun Road in Alimosho Local Government Area in Lagos State.
Okada riders were operating in spite of the movement restriction due to the governorship and state House of Assembly elections.
The development was very unusual when compared with the presidential and the National Assemnly elections where the riders adhered to the movement restriction.
Salisu Aruna, a 21-year-old rider, said that he got his motorcycle through hire purchase and needed to meet up with his weekly refunds.
“I came out to work so that I will be able to pay my weekly money for this motorcycle, the last presidential election affected my weekly money,” Aruna said.
Also, Fatai Gbadebo, a 35-year-old rider, said he decided to work in order to raise money to buy drugs for his sick mother later in the day.
When asked if has voted, Gbadebo said he was unable to vote because relocated to Ikotun from Agege.
“I have no option but to work because I need money to get drugs for my mother in the evening, the naira scarcity affected my business but I ride okada as my side hustle,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Polling Units (PUs) 063, 064, 065 and O66 all in Ward D at Ikotun/Liasu Alimosho Constituency 2, voting commenced around 9.00 a.m. compared with the last election where voting started late.
Voters were in large numbers casting their votes in the various units.
However, at PU 010 and 011, Ward E both in Akincoker St., Ikotun/Idimu Alimosho Constituency 2, as at 10.15 a.m. both INEC officials and the security agencts were not on ground, while few voters were waiting.
Voting eventually commenced at both PUs at 11.20 a.m.
