Voters in 28 states across Nigeria will on Saturday file out to elect governors who will run their affairs for the next four years, effective May 29.
There will also be voting into 993 state assembly seats across the 36 states of the federation in this rescheduled governorship and state houses of assembly elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after a slipshod performance at the Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25, largely due to failure to transmit and collate results electronically as assured, promised an improved performance.
INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu vowed that the polls will be free and fair.
Yakubu urged parties and candidates to speak to their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war and to “refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of our personnel, observers, the media and service providers.”
By Friday morning, INEC had concluded the distribution of sensitive materials for the governorship and house of assembly elections to all the wards.
INEC Promises to Upload Results Real Time
On Friday, INEC gave an insight into how polling unit results will be transmitted during today’s governorship elections.
The Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, while speaking on Arise News said “the law as of today prescribes a dual mode of either transmission of results or transfer of results.”
He said when polls closed at the level of the various units, the Presiding Officer who superintended the polling unit would enter the scores of the various political parties in form EC8A which is the polling unit level result.
“The PO will sign that particular result sheet and stamp it, the PU agent or party agent if available will also countersign and copies will be given to them and the police.
“That original result is what will be scanned and uploaded to our INEC Result Viewing Portal for public viewing. Not only that, the accreditation data that has arisen from that polling unit will also be uploaded, but the physical result and the BVAS itself will also be taken to the Registration Area Collation centre,” said Okoye.
According to him, the Collation Officer will have the benefit of seeing the original results and the BVAS itself and have the benefit of looking at the accreditation data as transmitted, and the result sheet as transmitted from the polling unit.
“That is the dual mode which the law has prescribed for the commission and that is the mode that we’re going to use for the purpose of this election,” said Okoye.
Speaking on real-time IREV delivery on Saturday, Okoye said results would be transmitted as soon as the polls closed from various polling units.
“The commission is determined to improve on its previous performance. What we have done is to learn valuable lessons from previous elections that we conducted, and we’re going to put those lessons into our planning purposes and processes, and into our deployment purposes,” Okoye said.
On INEC’s readiness, he said, “In all the states of the federation, both the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines and all the sensitive election materials have left the Central Bank and the various state offices of the federation.
“We want to ensure that all polling units open on time. Secondly, we made sure that we reconfigured all the BVAS that will be used for this particular election in terms of making sure that the BVAS perform optimally and also making sure that some of the challenges we had in the previous elections do not reoccur.”
Police Pledge Tight Security
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, is deploying over 400,000 officers and men for today’s operation.
Baba, who urged voters to come out and vote without fear, promised tight security.
He has also ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on Saturday in all states where elections will be conducted.
Baba said those on essential services such as officials of INEC, electoral observers, accredited media and observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, amongst others are exempted from the restriction.
He noted that the directive excludes the Federal Capital Territory, as no election is being conducted therein.
The IGP reiterated the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
State-established and owned security outfits/organizations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.
The IGP has also extended additional human and logistic support to police commands and formations across the country for effective election security management today.
The additional support includes the deployment of personnel, operational vehicles, non-lethal weapons, personal protective equipment (body armour), and anti-riot equipment among others.
March 18, 2023
Impressive voter turnout in Omo-Agege’s hometown
By Elo Edremoda, Warri
There was an impressive voter turnout in Orogun community, the hometown of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
Omo-Agege, the Deputy Senate President, is a leading contestant in the gubernatorial poll.
Scores of voters were seen seated separately and sheltered by canopies at the various polling units.
At Orhomurun Ward 2, unit 19 where the Delta Central Senator is expected to vote, the atmosphere was calm, with scores of voters calmly seated awaiting being called in batches to cast their votes.
At unit 18, the situation was no different.
It was gathered that accreditation and voting commenced around 8 a.m
Photos:
Voters at Orhomurun Ward 2 unit 19
Voters at Orogun ward 4, unit 18
I’m still in Gov race – Nweke
Enugu All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Governorship candidate Frank Nweke Jr has debunked rumours of his withdrawal from the Enugu gubernatorial race.
Nweke made the denial in a statement by his Media Manager, Mr Uchenna Igboeme, on Saturday in Enugu.
He described the report as fake, saying that he had never considered stepping down.
Nweke urged the state residents to ignore the report and vote for candidates of their choice.
He advised them to also protect their votes.
(NAN)
Kogi Gov Bello hails INEC
Damola Kola-Dare
Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello has hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for coming out in record time in his polling unit in Okene, Kogi State.
He also noted the election was going on smoothly across the state.
“Turnout is impressive. We are expecting more. So far, it is peaceful. INEC officials came out in record time. Across the state the election is going on peacefully, I have not received any adverse report,” he said in an interview on NTA.
Former Chairman, Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area, ADENIKE Adeniyi Williams casting her vote at Ward “B” unit 074, Abaranje road, Ikotun, Lagos.
PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID
Early arrivals of materials, INEC officials in Kishi, Igbeti
By Yinka Adeniran, Oke Ogun
Unlike the Presidential and National Assembly elections, sensitive electoral materials and personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived early in various units in Kishi and Igbeti, Irepo and Olorunsogo Local Government Areas respectively.
When the Nation moved around, it was observed that materials and personnel arrived at the various polling units as early as 7am.
In some cases, only party agents and a few voters were at the various units.
Despite arriving early, it was gathered that the officials did not begin the exercise until the stipulated 8:30 am.
For instance, in Unit 4, Ward 6, Alafia Tayo, Kishi in Irepo Local Government Area, the officials arrived the polling unit a few minutes past 7 am.
The situation was the same in Seriki Ward 6, Unit 7; Ogunbunmi Ward 4, Unit 4 and Asunmode ward 5, unit 2, all in Igbeti, Olorunsogo Local Government.
The situation however led to a sort of early start as INEC officials were seen in the axis attending to a few people.
This was different from what was observed during the February 25 presidential election where voters trooped out as early as 7 am to perform their civic responsibilities.
But as of the time of filing this report, voting has started in all polling units in the axis.
Voter’s apathy in Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor
Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
The two major local government areas of Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt city witnessed voter apathy on Saturday morning.
Unlike the February 25th Presidential election when people trooped out en masse to trek to their polling units, most people seem not interested in the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Most residents in the councils dominated by non-indigenes remained indoors and within their compounds not bothered about the elections.
The roads were deserted and adults were seen playing soccer.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived their polling units with electoral materials in time.
In most cases, the INEC officials waited for voters, who came in trickles to cast their ballots.
Some shops were seen doing business along many streets in the capital city while some community markets along the Chinda area of Obio-Akpor opened for skeletal business.
At Ward 9 Unit 7A, where the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, was expected to vote, INEC officials arrived early and community folks came out to cast their ballots.
The polling unit was not also as busy as it was during the presidential election as some plastic chairs kept for voters under four canopies were still empty.
VIDEO: President-Elect Tinubu votes
Army arrests 140 suspected thugs in Enugu
By Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu
Military operatives providing security for the Governorship and Assembly elections in Enugu State have arrested 140 thugs allegedly deployed for today’s election, The Nation has learnt.
A source said the hoodlums were picked up at the popular Carollina Hotel, Nsukka.
It was also gathered another three armed hoodlums were arrested at INEC office Nsukka.
The source said they were all armed with weapons including AK47 rifles, adding that they had confessed to have been deployed by a prominent member of a political party in the state.
The spokesman of the 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major Eromosele Unuakhalu, could not confirm the arrests. He told our correspondent that he was yet to get the information.
He however promised to get back to our correspondent as soon as he confirms the development.
President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu votes at ward 3 unit 85 Alausa Ikeja, Lagos.
Photos: Isaac Jimoh Ayodele
Exercise at Unit 19, Ward 8, Ibadan South West Local Government. There are 310 registered voters. Exercise commenced 8:30 am.
2. Unit 20, Ward 8, Ibadan South West Lical Government. There are 588 registered voters. Exercise commenced 8:30 am. BIVAS working well. Party agents on ground.
By Bisi Oladele
Assistance Presiding officer at ward 090 Olaifa Bucknor Ejigbo LCDA addressing voters disagreeing on number calling.
By Chinyere Okoroafor
Ad hoc INEC staff conveying election materials by hand from Registration Area Centre (RAC) at BDGS, Ovom, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
As of 8.40am, many units in Yenagoa were yet to receive voting materials.
The Rivers State Governorship Candidate of Accord Party, Dumo Lulu-Briggs votes at ward 4 unit 1, Degema
By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
Assembly polls: Low turnout in Akure
By Osagie Otabor. Akure
There is low turnout of voters in Akure, the Ondo capital as witnessed in many polling units visited at about 8:50 am.
Accreditation and voting had begun but not many voters were seen on the queue.
At Polling unit One Ward four along Oba Adesida Road, INEC adhoc staff were seen sitting waiting for voters.
Army detains hundreds of vehicles and motorcycles for violating restriction order on Election Day at Osogbo State House of Assembly. 9: 10 am
INEC materials just leaving Ikotun office to different centers in Alimoso LG.
Photos: ADEJO DAVID
Voting commences in ward 4 unit 1 Akuku-Toru local government Area, Rivers state. 8:30 a.m
895 voting materials for Governorship
895 voting materials for Assembly
By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
Voters waiting for INEC adhoc Staff to setup at Community Primary school Ipaja, Lagos. 8:13 am
Photo by: Olusegun Rapheal
INEC officials setting up at ward 03 unit 085 Alausa, Ikeja where the President-elect is going to cast his vote.8:25am
Photos: Isaac Jimoh Ayodele
Registration Area Centre (RAC) in Modern Primary School Degema, getting set for the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State 8: 28 am
By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
Voting materials arrive at Obiagu Primary School Extension, Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu. 8.05am
By Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu
INEC staff yet to arrive at ward 100 Azizat Association Ikotun. 8:33am
Photo: ADEJO DAVID
