On the 18th of March 2023, some journalists who were deployed to cover the polling unit of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, were stranded due to a faulty boat that was meant to transport them to the location. The boat developed a fault shortly after it took off, and the journalists had to disembark and wait for another boat as of 9:45 am.
Abdul-Azeez Adediran’s polling unit is located at Osolu Junior High School, Unit 001, ward G in Irewe community, which is a town in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State. The town is situated on the Island of one of the creeks in Badagry.
This incident caused some delay in the coverage of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Lagos State, as the journalists had to wait for another boat to arrive. The PDP candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, is contesting against other candidates in the election, which was highly anticipated by Nigerians.
It is noteworthy that the incident was reported by Punch, which is one of the most widely-read newspapers in Nigeria. The newspaper covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, sports, health, and entertainment. It also has editorial columns and a podcast that offers insightful discussions on various issues in Nigeria and beyond.
In conclusion, the incident involving the faulty boat that left journalists stranded while covering the 2023 gubernatorial election in Lagos State is an indication of the challenges that journalists face in their line of duty. However, it is important to note that the incident did not cause any harm to the journalists, and they were eventually able to continue their coverage of the election.