Another crucial day for Nigerians has finally come. Today, April 11, the Independent National Electoral Commission holds governorship polls in the majority of the country states.
Unsurprisingly, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, so as their candidates, are again in the centre of everyone’s attention.
Analysts estimated the chances of both parties in different states. However, some results of the March 28 polls showed that one can never be sure of the outcome. Moreover, the victory of the opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential election seriously altered the experts’ forecasts.
Naij.com team will be providing live updates about the major events of this historic day.
18:10 Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state said it was embarrassing that the Independent National Electoral Commission again failed to get its acts right on the use of the card reader. The governor called on the Comission to punish some of its staff who deliberately frustrated the exercise (Vanguard).
18:00 Internally displaced ones heading back to their safe havens after voting, Maiduguri (@muhammaddimaali).
17:47 Three gunmen have reportedly stormed a voting unit at Ebedeni Ward 6, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State and snatched ballot papers and boxes (The Punch).
17:35 Shortly after casting his vote, Vice President Namadi Sambo urged Nigerians to support the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari to ensure peace and development across the Nigeria (PT).
17:19 A security official keeping watch over elections at Abanashehu polling unit in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state has shot dead a voter at the unit. The Plateau state command of the Nigeria Police confirmed the incident (PT).
17:08 A disabled old woman came to cast her vote at Majidadi Award in Bauchi (@Zakariymbaba)
16:27 Sorting and counting starts all across the country.
16:23 Sorting of votes going on now at PU 25 at Aguda Surulere, Lagos (Core TV News). Also vote counting begins at PU 24-13-02-008, Medina Estate Gbagada (@trafficbutter). Canadian observers report that counting has started at some PUs in Plateau state (@MeganF0ster).
16:20 Woman delivers baby after voting in Tambuwal LGA, Sokoto, according to The Guardian Nigeria.
16:10 Voting has finished at voting center for the displaced persons in Adamawa. Sorting ongoing. Credit: CDD West Africa.
16:00 Obasanjo has also performed his civic duty (PT).
15:50 Muhammadu and Aisha Buhari casted their votes
15:40 Fashola’s personal photographer shares the pictures of the governor casting his vote on his Instagram handle @lukeshphoto.
15:38 Violence attempts at Nolende in Ibadan, with thugs attempting to attack each other.
15:28 Observers of the European Union commend commend the INEC for addressing the problems of the card readers.
15:22 Cases of ballot boxes snatching are being reported from across the country.
15:14 Yar’Baba Yusuf Babangida, aged 50, died after having slumped while on a queue for vote in Katsina (Leadership).
15:02 Police officer reportedly collapsed because of excessive heat at a polling unit in Ogun state, PU EC 30A.
Credit: @Kemisolafilani
14:55 Governor Danbaba Suntai for the first time since his accident came out in the public to cast his vote (PT).
14:50 Ogun state Governor Ibikunle Amosun getting accredited at his polling unit. Credit: TVC.
14:45 Akwa Ibom APC has announced the boycott of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state following the hijack of electoral materials by thugs and armed fake policemen (The Punch).
14:38 And soon Tambuwal votes. Credit: @imamdimam.
14:35 Pa Akanji Adedayo,72, preparing to cast his vote at at Ward E, Egbeda in Alimosho LGA, Lagos (about 14:23).
14:25 What? Underage voting in Jos North LGA, Plateau state? Credit: @ItodoPriscilla.
14:22 Speaker Aminu Tambuwal gets accredited in Sokoto, says: “It is not about family ties or relationship, it is about the peoples choice.”
14:14 Lagos state deputy governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, casting her vote at Ward E, Egbeda in Alimosho LGA.
Prince Paul Ogbebor, 89, assisted to the polling booth at Ward 8, Mosan in Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area, Lagos.
14:12 Victim of violence at Onna LGA, Akwa Ibom. Credit: @anonoauqua.
14:07 Jimi Agbaje moments before casting his vote: “I hope you all will be wondering who I voted for.”
Credit: PT
14:00 Goodluck Jonathan casting his vote in Bayelsa. Credit: Premium Times. Where is the First Lady by the way? Unlike during the presidential election, Patience Jonathan has not been seen around her spouse this time.
13:50 Amaechi described the ongoing election as a sham. “From.what we saw on our way to Ubima and reports we get across the state it is unfortunate this can happen” (Vanguard).
13:40 Bola Tinubu, APC national leader, casting his vote.
13:33 Impressive turn-out of voters in Damaturu metropolis, Yobe state, where voters started arriving an hour before the units opening (Vanguard).
13:30 Drama in one of Kwara state polling units over the failure of the card reader. Credit: @GATE_NG.
13:26 Accreditation has commenced in most of the polling units in Okrika LGA, Rivers state following the arrival of materials. However, there were reports about snatching of elections materials meant for Ward 6 and Kalio-Ama community (Leadership).
13:16 Soyinka continues on Channels TV saying that the INEC has done very well with the election so far, but now deal with those who have tried to rig.
13:14 Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers state governor, accredited at his polling station in Ikwere LGA.
13:10 An APC Youth Leader has been killed in Ogba/Egbema Ndomi LGA, Rivers State (by @SituationRoomNg)
13:00 Nobel Prize laureate Wole Soyinka said on Channels TV that the INEC should cancel elections in any polling unit where documentation is incomplete.
12:48 President Jonathan had no problems receiving accreditation in Otuoke.
12:35 Nigeria’s former vice president Atiku Abubakar accredited at Ajiya Ward 2, Jimeta, Adamawa state. Credit: @omonlakiki.
12:19 Babatunde Fashola, Lagos state governor, has also completed the accreditation. He appeals to the voters to come out and exercise their franchise.
Credit: @SirMustee
12:12 Heavy downpour in Ughelli and environs, Delta state, threatening to disrupt the election in area (TVC correspondent).
12:10 Ambode was standing in line before having got accredited in Epe (@YNaija).
12:05 Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna APC governorship candidate accredited. The official described the process so far as very orderly, peaceful and smooth
12:03 Protest in Ibiono LGA, Akwa Ibom, over alleged hijacking of materials. Credit: @InibeheEffiong.
11:54 Confirmed by police: two persons shot dead in the early hours of Saturday by unknown gunmen in Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi state (Vanguard). Victims: PDP chairman in Ishielu LGA of the state, Emeka Nworie, and an aged man, Mike Ojor in Ikwo Nnoyo.
11:50 Tension at a polling unit in Kano Municipal after some voters allegedly stoned the policemen on duty (Raypower radio).
11:48 Imo governor Rochas Okorocha has successfully undergone accreditation at his polling unit.
Credit: @TVC_Ent
11:43 There is heavy shooting in Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State. Most voters have returned home (The Punch).
11:36 Governor Abiola Ajimobi (APC) is spotted at his polling unit. He says the election is the most peaceful he has ever experienced. Tho governor hopes to get one more tenure in Oyo.
11:33 Adamawa PDP governorship candidate Mallam Nuhu Ribadu undergoing accreditation at his Bako ward in Yola South LG (PT).
11:23 President Jonathan got accreditation in Otuoke, Bayelsa state. Everything went smoothly (unlike during the presidential election). The Punch reports that GEJ arrived finished his accreditation without any issues in less than 10 seconds.
11:11 Jimi Agbaje finally gets thumb-printed after the fifth try, tweets @OmoTonthenews.
11:05 Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo accredited at Olushomi Compound, Ward 11, PU 21, Abeokuta North LGA, Ogun state.
OBJ sees an old man, about his age, near his polling unit and says: “Put on some clothes!”
Credit: @TVC_Ent
11:00 Lagos police has confirmed that ballot boxes were snatched in 3 polling units in Eti Osa LGA.
10:58 Accreditation is still going on at Yankawshi LGA, Jigawa state, Karkana PU ward (PT).
10:51 INEC’s REC in Lagos told journalists moments ago that restriction of movement might be extended from 17:00 till 20:00 (Raypower radio).
10:50 Voters still waiting for the accreditation to start at Garaku, Kokona, Nasarawa state. Credit: @DSamsonItodo.
10:47 Observers reporting incident of sporadic shooting at Ikuru Town, Andoni LGA, again Rivers state (PT). Ongoing protest in Ogudu, Kosofe LGA over stolen ballot papers at 10:01.
10:40 Unidentified thugs have allegedly snatched electoral materials meant for Ilile polling unit in Ohaji/Egbema LG, Imo state (360Nobs).
10:30 This is how Muhammadu and Aisha Buhari arrived and got accredited in Daura. Credit: Adebola Williams.
10:28 About 236 rejections were recorded so far in unit 003 of Alushi Ginda ward of Nasarawa Eggon (PT). Faulty card reader at ward 9, Unit 5 in Calabar, Cross River.
10:23 High turnout of voters at Laduradu, polling unit of Jonah Jang, Plateau state governor (PT). Meanwhile, low turn out of voters in polling units visited in Bayelsa state as of 9:25 (Raypower radio).
10:17 Twitter user @harumutasa provides that there a long lines of people displaced by Boko Haram getting accredited in Yola, Adamawa state.
10:05 Update on the situation in Buguma: the house belonging to Joeba West, the commissioner for women affairs in Rivers state, was reportedly set ablaze.
INEC RAC Centre in Kalabari National College also set on fire (Vanguard).
10:02 Gunmen believed to be working for the PDP early today took over the Town Hall Polling Zone in Ilase-Ijesa, Obokun LGA, Osun state, to scare away prospective voters (Premium Times).
10:00 There are allegations that Tamuno Danagogo, Nigeria’s minister of sports, has unleashed a band of vicious soldiers on residents and possible voters in Akuku Toru LGA, Rivers state.
9:46 Nigeria Info reporter says that supporters of the APC and the PDP are fighting in Obio-Akpor LGA of Rivers state. According to the reporter, the APC supporters don’t want INEC officials to distribute sensitive materials meant for the polls because they believe the results sheets of the election have been hijacked by PDP cohorts. It has been provided that security agents on ground have managed to stop the confrontation.
9:45 Youths in Obio-Akpor, Rivers state, allege that they saw some persons carting away election materials in the early hours of today (Channels TV).
9:35 Accreditation is said to have started at Jimi Agbaje’s polling unit in Apapa, Lagos. However, the PDP candidate is yet expected.
9:33 Accreditation ongoing in Oyo polling units. Credit: @Oyodecides
9:27 This photo of people booking space at polling units has gone extremely viral!
9:25 Accreditation has already started in most of the polling units visited in Surulere area of Lagos (NaijaInfo). No reports about card reader failures in the area.
9:15 Muhammadu Buhari and his wife Aisha have been accredited in his hometown, Daura, Katsina state (around 8:15 – 8:30). Polling unit at Sarkin Yara A, Kofar Baru III.
9:10 Information from some polling units, where accreditation has already started: card readers not working.
9:03 Report from Delta: No INEC officials, no materials, no security in PU10/18/07/001, Udu LG, as of 8.45.”
9:00 Kwara state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, reportedly accredited at the Share area of Ifelodun LGA.
8:53 By @Traffic_Gist: “Ambode Rice being shared in my area now.”
8:51 In Edo state INEC officials are already on ground at most of the polling units visited. Though it is still early in the day, voters’ turn out was said to be very low (Raypower radio). NB: Only State House of Assembly elections are being held in Edo today.
8:50 Nasarawa resident @chitranagarajan tweets: “Good to see INEC escorting people with disabilities & elderly to shaded area to wait.”
8:45: Reports from 8 polling units in Kogi state inform that INEC officials were seen on ground getting ready for the elections. It added that voters are coming in low numbers (Raypower radio).
8:40 Reports from Cross River state inform that the turn out of voters for today’s elections is not encouraging when compared to the presidential election held on March 28, 2015. Most of the polling units are said to be empty as INEC officials were seen arriving for duty (Raypower radio).
8:34 Omoni Oboli ready to vote as she writes on Instagram: “Election face!!! Ready to perform my civic responsibility! No matter who your choice is, make your voice heard! Go out and vote!!! Nigeria is for us all!!!”
8:25 About 50 heavily armed soldiers mounted heavy blockade around the family residence of Rivers governorship candidate of the PDP, Barr Nyesom Wike, as early as 6:00 (Vanguard).
8:20 At 8:02 the accreditation commenced at PU 019, Latunde Street by Borno Way, Yaba, Lagos. Credit: @OmoTonthenews
8:16 Niger state. Credit: @spychief.
8:14 Like it was at the presidential polls, some units have already started the accreditation, while the others are still waiting for the materials to arrive.
8:10 Ballot boxes for guber and House of Assembly elections.
8:07 No signs of INEC officials in many polling booths in Asutan, Abak Road, Uwaniba, Paul Bassey and Ekpeyong Streets in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. But election materials arrive in Jos, photo credit: @Sinach360.
7:55 Yet unconfirmed reports about shooting in Buguma, Asari Toru LGA, Rivers state.
7:40 Residence of Bamgbose Str, Lagos Island, set up canopies, chairs and tables waiting for INEC officials to begin accreditation (The Punch).
7:35 Not everywhere like that… Some are reporting about the queues at the polling units (Ward 015, Ojokoro).
7:30 Rivers, “Ward 20 Unit 50 (7:26) just me,” – says @AkInsight, who can’t wait to cast the vote!
7:15 INEC warns: “Only voters with PVCs should come out to the polling units on Election Day. The use of SCRs for the elections will be strictly applied.”
7:10 And more calls for peaceful election. @Fakanfa: “Remember there is no gain in election violence and thuggery, the level of peace in Nigeria determines the future of Nigeria.” Good point!
6:50 Some Lagosians are joking that they don’t fear Lagoon – reference to the claim of the Oba of Lagos who threatened the Igbos with Lagoon unless they vote for Ambode.
6:40 Lagos resident @aibitoye notes that diversity may be both uniting and dividing: “Our diversity is our greatest strength, it can also be our worst enemy.” Recall that a tough competition for Lagos will apparently take place between Jimi Agbaje, PDP, and Akinwunmi Ambode, APC.
6:30 @mayor_adj tweets: “It another election day in #Nigeria2015 state election… All eyes on #Lagos #Rivers #Imo”
6:18 Country residents seem to be in a festive mood, based on the messages already emerging in social media in such an early hour. Users thank God “for yet another day…#NigeriaVotes” and urge each other to avoid violence.
6:14 President Goodluck Jonathan addressed Nigerians ahead of the polls. The incumbent urged the people to perform their civic duty by exercising their right to vote and to choose their leaders.
0 comments:
Post a Comment