Some communities on Saturday employed services of town criers to mobilise voters for the by-election in Surulere 1 Federal Constituency in Lagos State.

It was observed that town criers in different areas beat bells or iron plates to sensitise the voters to come out and vote.

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 and civil servant residing on Mercy Eneli Street, Ahmed Dauda, said that it was necessary to call on people to participate in the election to address whatever issues affecting them.

“We came to ring bells for people to come out and vote. People should not show apathy to elections. It is our right to choose our leaders. We are still telling people to come out and participate,” the town crier said.

Mr Dauda, who noted that the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, had positively affected a lot of lives in Surulere, said the people should not make any mistake of voting the  wrong candidate.

Another town crier, Nofisat Yusuf, a cloth designer, who used iron  plates to call people to vote out at the Akerele Extension, said that the election should not be disregarded by the people.

She said, “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.’’

It was also observed that security operatives from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, 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 of different political parties are scrambling for 121,111 votes of eligible voters in the election.

The seat became vacant due to the resignation of the former occupant, Gbajabiamila, who after winning, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu as his Chief of Staff.

(NAN)