Live update:Accreditation, Voting Begin In Governorship, House Of Assembly Polls.
Finally, election day is here⦠again. Millions of voters get to choose their governors and state house of assembly members for a new four-year term.
Three weeks after a dramatic round of presidential and National Assembly elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) again takes centre stage for the conduct of governorship and state house of assembly polls across the country.
The state-centred elections were initially scheduled for March 11. But the fallout of the federal elections set back reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, prompting a one-week delay.
Amid hopes of a hitch-free exercise, Nigerians finally troop out to various polling units to cast their votes for their candidates of choice. According to INEC, a total of 87.2 million are eligible to vote, having collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs).
Of the 36 states, governorship polls will be held in 28, namely Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
As for the state legislatures, all 36 states are the home bases of thousands competing for 993 state house of assembly seats.
Usherloaded will keep you up to speed with all the latest information. Refresh this page for more updates.
11:58 am: Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River alongside his wife Linda Ben-Ayade casts their votes at Polling Unit 033, Ipong Ward, Kakum, Obudu Local Government Area amidst high hopes of APC governorship candidate emerging victorious.
The Governor, who cast his vote at about after twelve minutes past eleven in the morning, expressed delight that voting started by 8:30 am which is a major departure from the last election
He expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of voters and the peaceful manner in which the exercise is conducted, adding that the principle of equity, justice, and fairness will prevail.
11:57 am: El-Rufai votes at Polling Unit 024, Ungwan Sariki Ward in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna.
11:45 am: Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu casts his vote in Ward 7, Unit 032 Umuobiakwa.
11:43 am: Former Lagos Governor Sarah Adebisi-Sosan commends INEC, security operatives, and everyone officiating in the guber, state assembly elections.
11:42 am: Voting ongoing at Achara Central School, booth 002 in Achara Uturu in Isikwuato LGA.
11:40 am: Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has cast his ballot in his hometown Duguri, Alkaleri local government area. He says the election is not a do-or-die affair and he will accept the outcome of the result. The governor also said that he is impressed by the large turnout of voters.
11:39 am: Gov. Wike of Rivers State casts his ballot at Rumueprikom Ward 9, Unit 7 in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State.
11:29 am: The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of Abia State Greg Ibe cast his vote at polling unit 012 Nkwu -Achara Market Square, Ward 7, Isikwuato LGA of Abia State.
He commends INEC for introducing new technology in the electoral system. Meanwhile, heβs accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state of thuggery and ballot snatching a development he has reported to security operatives.
10:55 am: Thugs destroy ballot boxes 002 and 003 at Darmanawa ward, Tarauni Local Government of Kano State.
10:46 am: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu cast his vote at Eiyekole, 006 polling unit, St. Stephens Nursery and Primary School, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island.
10:38 am: Voting has started in most parts of Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, Magaji Are Ward 2.
10:28 am: There is a sense of general voter apathy across Ebonyi State. Reports from other parts of Ebonyi as evidenced in Polling Unit 002, Station Urban, in Ebonyi LGA, where 1,058 voters are expected to cast ballots.
Only 14 people have voted as of 8:46 am, 16 mins after voting officially started.
The INEC official said although itβs early to conclude how it will end. But the turnout is far lower than the presidential and NASS elections.
At the Independence Layout Ward 11, Okpara Square 2 in Enugu, voting commenced here at about 8:45 am. The turnout is nothing compared to the presidential election of February 25.
10:26 am: Rivers State PDP governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara, has cast his ballot at Ward 5, Polling 8 in Opobo Town, in Opobo/Nkoro LGA of Rivers State.
He was in the company of his wife, to vote at about 10 am. He commended the process so far, saying the electoral materials arrived early and the BVAS functioned effectively at the time he voted.
10:25 am: Bayelsa Police Condemn Destruction Of Electoral Materials
The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed and condemned the destruction of electoral materials at Ogbia Constituency 2. The Commissioner of Police has also directed a team to go and disperse the traders at the Tombia Market.
10:19 am: Residents of Yola, the Adamawa State capital turned out in their numbers early to exercise their franchise.
The electoral officers are early and accreditation and voting commenced at exactly 8:30 am in most polling units visited by Channels TV. Voting started without hitches and the BVAS seems to be working well without issues. Security officials are around to secure the polling units.
10:17 am: Heavy Security Presence At Major Roads, Junctions In Gusau
Thereβs a heavy presence of security personnel in major streets and junctions in Gusau, Zamfara State capital as residents vote to elect their governor and members of the state House of Assembly.
Checks around the city showed heavy security presence at major checkpoints and INEC registration areas
Also heavily manned is the main entrance gate of the Government House, Gada Biyu Junction, Lalan Junction, Tudun Wada Roundabout, Central Police Station Roundabout, and Sokoto/ Gusau Road among other flashpoints
Although these junctions were barricaded, security agents on duty were seen refusing unauthorized motorists and pedestrians access.
10:15 am: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu arrives at his polling Unit 006, Eiyekole at Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island.
09: 57 am: Trading is ongoing at Tombia Market in Yenagoa, Bayelsa. Tombia is in the heart of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. There is a low voter turnout in the area.
10:04 am: The deputy governor of Lagos, Kadri Hamzat, casts his vote in the Epe area of the state.
09: 57 am: Trading is ongoing at Tombia Market in Yenagoa, Bayelsa. Tombia is in the heart of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. There is a low voter turnout in the area.
09:56 am: A cross-section of voters from Ward 4, Unit 6, Ibadan North LG, Oyo State.
09:44 am: Voting has started in some polling units of 028 in Ugwa Abuja, Tudun Wada of Jos North in Plateau State. The polling unit has 947 registered voters.
09:40 am: In polling unit 024, Ungwan Sariki Ward in Kaduna North Local Government area, Governor Nasir El-Rufai is expected to cast his vote here. But one significant issue in this election is that accreditation and voting commenced as early as 7:45 am in most polling units due to the early arrival of INEC officials, unlike in the presidential/National Assembly elections.
So far, there has not been any report of BVAS malfunctioning or failure as was witnessed during the February 25th election.
ICPC officials at the polling unit, 024 Ungwan Sariki ward in Kaduna North Local Government. They are here to monitor the exercise, especially, the menace of vote buying.
09:30 am: The Lagos governorship candidate of the Labour Party, GRV arrives and joins the queue.
09:29 am: The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tammy Danagogo, has cast his ballot in Unit Four, Ward Ten, Abonnema Akuku-Toru LGA, Rivers State.
Accreditation and voting are seamless as BVAS is working in all polling units visited in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru LGA Rivers.
Accreditation and voting are ongoing at Biarra community in Gokana LGA of Rivers State.
11:27 am: There is a large voter turnout in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital.
11:26 am: The PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State Mr Olajide Adediran laments insecurity and voter intimidation in various parts of Lagos state. In spite of all that, he is confident of taking the day by the end of the ongoing voting exercise.
11:10 am: Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has arrived at the Polling unit 024, Ungwan Sariki ward to cast his vote. He is accompanied by his wife, Hadiza.
11:13 am: Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has cast his vote at Agassa, Upogoro ward polling Unit eleven.
09:20 am: INEC Begins Distribution of Election Materials In Zamfara
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has started the distribution of election materials from registration areas to polling units in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
INEC officials, security agencies, NYSC members, EFCC personnel, party agents, and election observers are also on the ground to escort election materials to polling units.
The electoral umpire in Zamfara had a few days ago at stakeholders meeting assured that the election will commence at the scheduled time across the state without any delay but as of 9:20 am, voting is yet to commence at most of the polling units in the state capital.
09:20 am: The voting process is also ongoing at Eiyekole 006 polling unit, St Stephens Nursery and Primary School, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island.
Voting started at 9.10 am at Oshifila/Abule Igbira in Anifowose, Ikeja, Polling Unit 045 where the Labour Party Candidate, GRV is expected to vote.
09:19 am: This is what the security presence looks like at Ward 5, Unit 7 in Opobo/Nkoro LGA of Rivers State.
The Accord Party (AP) governorship candidate, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has just cast his ballot at Unit One, Ward Four Abonnema, Akuku-Toru LGA, Rivers State.
77 years Old Maria Onyegbule is ready to cast her vote at Ward 6, polling unit 002 St. Silas Primary School, Old Unuahia, Aba Road, Umuahia.
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