Updates: Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa Poll: Gov Bello Votes, Commends INEC, Security, Kogites.
The outgoing governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has exercised his voting right in the November 11, governorship election in the state.
Bello gave the commendation while speaking at the polling unit in his Agassa country home in Okene, Okene Local Government Area of the state, north-central Nigeria, at about 9 a.m. with his wife, Rasheedat shortly after casting his vote.
He also awarded INEC, Security agencies and the people a pass mark for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the election.
Political agents are sharing money to voters to induce them to vote for their candidates in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, in Saturday’s governorship election.
The agents stationed themselves about 500 metres away from polling units, from where they shared money to voters to lure them to vote for their candidates.
The amount given to a voter ranges from N3000 to N5000 depending on his personality or bargaining power.
A voter was expected to present his Permanent Voter Card (PVC) as a precondition to collecting the money.
To avoid security agencies, the team sharing the money usually disappeared after sharing to few people in a particular location only to convene in another location few minutes after.
Some of the beneficiaries said they weren’t selling their votes by collecting the money, as they had already made up their minds to vote for the candidates.
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Off-cycle-election: They can’t stop my winning – PDP guber candidate
Anyawu not stepping down for Uzodimma – Imo PDP
Owerri – The Imo state Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, on Saturday said nobody can stop his winning of the governorship election.
He stated this while fielding questions shortly after he voted at his polling unit 012 at Amaimo Central School in Ikeduru local council area in the state.
Anyanwu’s stand was that any issue of ballot snatching or violence would not count based on INEC’s instruction.
He mentioned that; “one Charles Amadi, was came to disturb. I do not care because they cannot stop my winning. I am sure our agents have made formal report about it.
“INEC, has said that any place that there is violence or snatching of election results that result will not count that is while i am not bordered.”
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Bayelsa Guber election: Thugs hijack election materials
Election materials for five units namely 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 have reportedly been hijacked by thugs from the ward headquarters located at Olugbobiri in Southern Ijaw LGA of the state.
The incident has left majority of the electorate in Olugbobiri disenfranchised with voters calling on INEC to cancel the votes in the area.
Confirming the incidents, angry voters told newsmen that “There’s also no voting in Olugbobiri. All materials have been hijacked.
1:15 pm:
Large turnout of voters at a polling unit situated in Governor Douye Diri’s hometown in Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.#BayelsaDecides2023 #KogiDecides2023 #IMODecides2023 #INEC #offseasonelection pic.twitter.com/AJYW4LzG3X
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) November 11, 2023
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1:02 pm: The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, along with his wife, cast their ballots at Polling Unit 4, Dukuraku Central Open Space, Okpoama, Ward 4, Brass Local Government.
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11:40 a m – Owerri- By Chinonso Alozie – The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has voted at polling unit 012 at Amaimo Central School in Ikeduru council area of Imo state.
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11:43 a.m Former Deputy Governor Bayelsa State Gboribiogha Jonah just cast his vote at ward 3 unit 15 at Ayama polo Nembe.
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Imo State: Report from Government House polling units 001 And 002
The Presiding Officer, PO, of 001, Umelo Maryjane Nkechi, said they have 914 registered voters. According to her, they have adequate materials. There is adequate security on ground.
In Unit 002, Presiding Officer, Umunna Chioma, said they have a total of 521 registered voters. According to her they were supposed to start accreditation at 8.30am but arrangement of materials slightly delayed the operation. She noted they have adequate materials and no challenges so far.
Materials arrived the two poling boths arrived at 8:30am.
Voting started at about 9.20am in almost all the polling units visited in Awaka, Egbu and Emekuku, in owerri North local council area of Imo State.
At Amakpu polling unit 003 and 004, voting was yet to commence at 9.49am but INEC officials were ground.
The Pilgrimage Centre 010 was moved to another location within the community, as grass covered the supposed polling unit site.
At Ekeama polling unit 001 and 002, voting was going on simultaneously with accreditation.
Area visited were generally peaceful but witnessed gross low turnout of voters.
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Massive turnout in Okene, central senatorial district of Kogi state
Massive turnout in Okene, central senatorial district of Kogi state#BayelsaDecides2023 #KogiDecides2023 #IMODecides2023 #INEC #offseasonelection
For more election stories, visit https://t.co/ujlov2oZ4j pic.twitter.com/ln14LUlW7K
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) November 11, 2023
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Kogi: INEC begins investigation of forged results sheet
Omeiza Ajayi
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on Saturday said its top officials had launched an investigation into allegations that result sheets were forged in some polling units in Kogi state.
INEC disclosed this on its X handle minutes after pictures of the forged sheets emerged.
“Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State.
“The Commission views this situation seriously.
“Our senior officials deployed to the State are currently investigating the incident(s). The Commission will communicate its decision earnestly”, the commission stated.
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Labour Party candidate decries high incidence of vote buying in Bayelsa
Labour Party candidate decries high incidence of vote buying in Bayelsa #BayelsaDecides2023 #KogiDecides2023 #IMODecides2023 #INEC #offseasonelection
For more election stories, visit https://t.co/ujlov2oZ4j pic.twitter.com/3OwSITKJCL
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) November 11, 2023
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Bayelsa: Suspected thugs invade polling units in Southern Ijaw, Sagbama, hijack materials
Armed thugs have reportedly invaded polling units in Sagbama local Government area with heavy gun shots and hijack of elections materials.
It was learned that at about 9 am at Agorogbene, unit 6, 7 and 8 in Ward 11 of the Local Government, voters and destroy election materials.
According to sources, attempts by the electorate to challenge the armed men were replied with heavy gun shots.
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Diri lauds INEC improvement on Bayelsa poll
By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the improvement on its handling of the governorship election in the state.
Diri who spoke shortly after casting his vote at Ward 6 Unit 4 Kalaowei Owei in Sampou, Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA of the state expressed satisfaction with the seamlessness of the exercise.
The exercise, which witnessed a large turn out of voters in the community, was peaceful.
Addressing newsmen Diri said: “I think this is an improvement of all the other elections that I have participated. It’s very seamless, very fast and if it continue like this then I want to believe that INEC has improved on not only their facilities but also the training of their men that are handling the process…
“We are still putting our ears to the ground as to what is happening in other polling units
“But here (Sampou) I’m very satisfied with the process and the personnel that are handling the process.
‘in any case what we ask for is a free process where the BVAS should be use just as I have done here today. Accreditation should be by BVAS across the state.”
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The Labour Party, LP, Governorship Candidate, Engr Udengs Eradiri, casts his vote at Unit 5, Agudama/Ekpetiama Ward 10, Yenagoa LGA at about 10:20am
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10:27 a.m. Bello votes at his Agaza country home, Okene
The Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yayaha Bello has arrived to cast his vote at his Agaza country home.
He arrived the poling unit11,Agaza at exactly 09. 15 accompanied by the first lady, Barrister Aminat Bello,Rashidat Bello and Hafisat Bello.
He told them to proceed to the women section of the queue while he queued at the men section to cast his vote at 09.28
Bello said all process so far has been seamless and commended INEC and security for doing a professional work.
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We need to stop off-season elections, not best for Nigeria – Ex-President Jonathan
We need to stop off-season elections, not best for Nigeria – Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan called on the National Assembly to stop off-season elections in Nigeria.
Jonathan stated this in an interview with newsmen after casting his vote in the ongoing… pic.twitter.com/gslHH5nghM
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) November 11, 2023
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9:40 a.m. Imo: Voting begins at Obokwe booth 007, Ngurunwekwo Ward, Aboh Mbaise LGA. By Emmanuel Iheaka
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9:25 a.m. Voting ongoing at PU 46, Ward 5, Epie II, Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa State. By Emem idio
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Breaking: Governor Diri votes
By Samuel Oyadongha
Below is the image of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State casting his vote at Ward 6 Unit 4, Kalaowei Owei Sampou town in Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA.
Security checks
Security pereonnel at Sampou Junction off East-West Road, leading to Governor Douye Diri’s hometown in Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA
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8:53 a.m. Imo: No INEC officials
By Emmanuel Iheaka
NEC officials yet to arrive Amakohia Primary School voting centre, Owerri North LGA.
However, security operatives, comprising a policeman and two NSCDC operatives, were at the centre.
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8:47 a.m. Yenagoa: INEC personnel just arriving War 6 Epie, Unit 35 & 36, Ekeki Park, Yenagoa LGA. By Emem Idio
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8:43 a.m. Kogi: Voting begins at Code 9 Polling Unit, Idanuwa Ward, Adavi LGA
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8:37 a.m. Owerri: Electoral materials, INEC officials arrive booth 008 GRA, Owerri. By Chinonso Alozie
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Yenagoa: One set before voting
A football game ongoing at Kpansia axis of Bayelsa State capital
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8: 21 a.m. Okene: Heavy military presence at Itakpe Junction, Kogi
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7:53 a.m. Owerri: A convoy of security personnel in a show of force. By Chinonso Alozie
Owerri- Video of convoy of Army officers mounted in front of Imo govt House.
By Chinonso Alozie#BayelsaDecides2023 #KogiDecides2023 #IMODecides2023 #INEC pic.twitter.com/unloeQVKK4
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) November 11, 2023
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8:04 a.m. Yenagoa: Water vendor on lonely Tolda Street, Ekeki. By Samuel Oyadongha
Isacc Boro Expressway
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7:41 a.m. Yenagoa: Deserted Azikoro Road by Ekeki Park, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state. By Omeiza Ajayi
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7:37 am Owerri: Wethedral Road empty. By Chinonso Alozie
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7:28 a.m. Owerri: Police mount reinforced security in front of Imo State Government House. By Chinonso Alozie.
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ICYMI: Other contestants…
These are some other contestants in the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi elections:
*Uchenna Okere of Accord Party
*Jack Ogunewe of Action Alliance
*Ifeanyi Awulonu of African Action Congress
*Otumbadi Okoroma of the African Democratic Congress
*Steve Nwoga of Action Democratic Party
*Anthony Ejiogu of All Progressives Grand Alliance
*Chibuike Edoziem of Allied Peoples Movement
*Obieze Achilike of Action Peoples Party
*Isaac Iwuanyanwu of Boot Party
*Ben Ofunzeh of New Nigeria Peoples Party
*Cole Okwara of the National Rescue Movement
*Ishiodu Uchechukwu of People’s Redemption Party
*Bright Ekwebelem of Social Democratic Party
*Chino Opara of Young Progressives Party
*Andy Chibuike of the Zenith Labour Party.
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