Lagos, Feb. 3, 2024 (NAN): Some communities on Saturday employed the services of town criers to mobilise voters for Saturday’s by-election in Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents monitoring the election observed town criers in different areas jingling bells or iron plates to sensitise the voters to come out and exercise their franchise.
On Mercy Eneli Street, Akerele Extension, and other adjourning streets, town criers were shouting on the road, calling people to come out and vote.
A town crier, Mr. Ahmed Dauda, a civil servant residing on Mercy Eneli Street, told NAN that it was necessary to call people to participate in the election to address whatever issues were affecting them.
“We have to come out and ring bells for people to come out and vote. People should not show apathy towards elections. It is our right to choose our leaders.
“We are still telling people to come out and participate,” the town crier told NAN.
Dauda, who noted that the Chief of Staff President Bola Tinubu, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, had positively affected a lot of lives in Surulere, said the people should not make any mistake of voting for the wrong candidate.
Another towncrier, Mrs. Nofisat Yusuf, a fashion designer who used an iron plate to call people to vote out at the Akerele Extension, told NAN that the election should not be disregarded by the people.
“We are doing this so that people will come out and vote for the candidate of their choice in any political party of their choice.
“People must come out from all areas, including Akerele Extension, Rabiatu Thompson, Alapa Fuja, Bank Olemin, Olawale Daudu, Randle Junction, and others.
NAN reports that security operatives from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigeria Army mounted several road blocks to restrict movement in and around Surulere.
Patrol vans and armoured carriers loaded with armed security agents were observed patrolling streets and roads in the constituency.
Twelve candidates from different political parties are scrambling for 121,111 votes from registered voters with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the election.
The seat became vacant due to the resignation of the former occupant, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, who, after winning, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu as his Chief of Staff. (NAN)
