An election observer organisation, Connected Development, on Saturday, accused security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force of undermining the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections in Nigeria.
The organisation said security personnel were responsible for the spate of violence and voter suppression that characterised the election so far.
Executive Director of CODE, Hamzat Lawal, stated these while disclosing the organisation’s preliminary statement on the elections in Abuja, on Saturday.
Lawal lamented that the response of the security agencies, including the police, which is the lead agency of election security to violence and intimidation alerts, during the polls was nothing to write home about.
Economic Community of West African States has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday.
This was made known in a statement made available to our correspondent.
The organisation in its statement described the electoral process as peaceful.
Kompany, who won four Premier League titles in an 11-year career at City as a player, was given a hero’s reception at the Etihad.
Checks by our correspondent on Saturday at 9 pm showed election results were uploaded in 28 states. They include….
The Independent National Electoral Commission has postponed Saturday’s governorship and Houses of Assembly elections in Butura Ward in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau to Sunday, due to logistics problem.
The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Oliver Agundu, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Jos on Saturday.
Agundu said that election materials such as ballot papers meant for the ward were taken to another LGA in error.
He said that in order not to disenfranchise members of the community, the election in the area would now hold on Sunday, March 19.
He regretted any inconveniences caused by the delay and eventual shift of the election.
He urged members of the community to come out in their numbers to exercise their franchise.
The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Ogun State, Olufemi Ajadi, has vowed that the party will initiate legal actions against the Independent National Electoral Commission for omitting the party’s name on the ballot papers.
Ajadi who spoke shortly after he cast his votes at Ofada, in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state, expressed worry that only the party’s logo was on the ballot paper, but the name was conspicuously missing.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party floored the All Progressives Congress in one of the polling units in Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna in Saturday’s governorship poll.
The main opposition party’s candidate, Isa Ashiru Kudan, won polling unit 014 with 77 votes while APC’s Uba Sani scored 40 votes.
1) Governorship election results at Ward 9, Unit 10 (Bayo Adelabu’s Polling Unit), South East Local Government Area of Oyo, on Saturday.
Accord 38
APC 22
PDP 60
2) State House of Assembly election results at Unit 10, Ward 9, (Bayo Adelabu’s Polling Unit), South East Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Saturday
Accord 42
APC 23
PDP 53
Governorship election results at Ward 9, Unit 11, South East Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Saturday.
Accord 35
APC 30
PDP 79
Registered voters 750
Accredited 150
Total Votes Cast 150
Rejected 6
State House of Assembly election results at Ward 9, Unit 11, South East Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Saturday.
APC 28
Accord 36
PDP. 80
LP 1
ADP 1
APP 1
SDP 1
Accredited 150
Registered 750
Rejected 2
The Independent National Electoral Commission has postponed Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in 10 polling units in the Victoria Garden City, Lekki area in the state.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Segun Agbaje, stated this when he addressed reporters at the VGC on Saturday.
The Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran aka Jandor, has defeated his closest rivals, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, at his polling unit in Osolu Junior High School, Unit 001 ward G in Irewe, Ojo Local Government Area of the state.
Adediran polled 79 votes while Sanwo-Olu secured 66 votes. Rhodes-Vivour, however, got just one vote.
Polling Unit 045/06/07 at Denro Ishasi, Akute, Ogun State.
Governorship Election:
APC 40
ADC 14
PDP 1
A.A 1
Void vote 2
Total vote 58
State House of Assembly:
APC 34
ADC 15
Labour Party 7
ZLP 1
Void vote 1
Total vote 58
Governorship Election Result, Polling Unit 086, Ikosi Junction, Ketu, Lagos.
NNPP –1
PDP —-3
APC –39
LP —–8
ADC –1
Void—5
House of Assembly Result, Polling Unit 086, Ikosi Junction, Ketu, Lagos.
ADP- -1
LP —-10
APC -37
SDP —1
PDP—-7
Void—1
Total registered voters-886
Total accredited voters—57
There was tension and violence in about five per cent of the polling units monitored during the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday, a coalition of over 80 human rights organisations under the aegis of the Nigerian Civil Situation Room has observed.
The organisation however noted the early deployment of election officials and materials across the country, with many states deploying election officials and materials to the RACs on time.
Results from PU047, Alahun Osunba 2, Mazamaza Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Gov poll result
APC: 12
LP: 72
PDP: 01
Boot: 01
State Assembly:
APC: 11
ADP:01
LP: 72
PDP:02
90-year-old woman, Madam Badere Obukoko, shortly after casting her vote at Unit 19, Orogun Ward 2 in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State on Saturday.
Credit: Dele Ogunyemi
Gov poll result for PU 048, Coscharis junction, Alahun Osunba Street, Mazamaza, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
APC: 13
PDP: 04
NNPP: 02
LP: 88
The All Progressives Congress candidate and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has trounced his closest rivals, Abdulazeez Adediran and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party at Polling Unit 6, Eiyekole, Lagos Island, in the ongoing governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
Sanwo-Olu polled 121 votes while Adediran and Rhodes-Vivour secured only one and two votes respectively.
Credit: Uthman Salami
The Independent National Electoral Commission has uploaded some election results from the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
Our correspondent reports that opposition parties and some Nigerians had knocked INEC over its failure to upload results immediately on its Result Viewing portal during the presidential and National Assembly elections.
INEC staff at PU011, Oyewole Primary School, Mazamaza along Lagos-Badagry Expressway, leaving without capturing any voter.
The BVAS of this polling unit had been faulty during the last presidential election in February, leading to disenfranchised voters.
Voting in some polling units in the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area, Ikorodu, Lagos State was marred by low voter turnout, The Eaglesforesight reports.
Polling units in Igbogbo I and II visited by our correspondent saw electoral officials waiting for voters to turn out to cast their ballots.
At polling unit 023, Ward C2, Agunfoye, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were waiting for voters as of 11:48am when our correspondent visited the unit.
The Polling Officer at the unit told The PUNCH that 180 eligible voters were expected at the unit but the turnout as of the time of the visit was not up to half of the eligible voters expected.
The situation was similar at polling unit 033, Ward C2, visited by our correspondent at 12:42pm.
As of the time of visit, only 69 eligible voters had cast their ballots out of 377 registered voters at the unit.
One of the party agents at the unit, who pleaded anonymity, said the low turnout at the polling unit was as a result of relocation. He said the residential buildings demolished by the Akinwumi Ambode-led administration in the state made many residents in the area to relocate from the area and that affected the turnout.
Low turnout was also recorded at polling unit 010, Ward C2, where a large percentage of the 750 registered voters at the unit did not show up to cast their ballots.
At polling units 002, 003 and 010, Igbogbo I, Methodist Primary School, as well as polling unit 005, Igbogbo I at the Adegboruwa Palace, Igbogbo, visited by our correspondent Saturday afternoon, low voter turnout was also observed.
Polling officers were seen expecting voters to show up after some had already cast their ballots.
Party agents and some voters were seen hanging around at various units waiting for the conclusion of voting.
INEC officers who spoke with The PUNCH at the units said sorting would start as scheduled if no more voters turn out by the close of voting.
Credit: Samuel Bolaji
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress and incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, won the polling unit of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The APC candidate polled 43 votes, his closest contender, the Labour Party candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, had five votes, while the National Rescue Movement had one vote.
Credit: Daniel Ayantoye
The Labour Party candidate in the Lagos State governorship election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has lost his polling unit to the incumbent, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress.
Rhodes-Vivour polled 18 votes while Sanwo-Olu won with 29 votes.
Gov poll result from PU 005, Ward A2, Mile 2, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Lagos.
APC: 13
LP: 05
PDP: 0
Governor Godwin Obaseki cast his ballots on Saturday with his wife in Edo.
Photo Credit: Adeyinka Adedipe, Benin
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 general election, Peter Obi, has voted at his Amatutu polling unit in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Obi, after voting at about 11.20 am, said he observed voter apathy and “transactional politics” unlike the February 25 presidential polls.
Credit: Ikenna Obianeri
Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, cast his ballots in his hometown, Agaza on Saturday.
Credit: Gbenga Odogun
The PDP governorship candidate in Sokoto, Sa’idu Umar Ubandoma, cast his vote at his polling unit.
Photo Credit: Animasahun Salman Sokoto
Ogun East Senator-Elect, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, casting his ballot at his Obafemi Awolowo Road, GRA Sagamu.
Photo Credit: Daud Olatunji
Chairman Senate Services Committee and Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Sani Musa and his wife, Hajiya Sa’adatu Sani-Musa voted at Anguwan Galadima 1 Polling Unit in Paiko Central Ward, in Niger State.
Credit: Tope Omobolagun
As the governorship and state house of assembly elections continue nationwide, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Saturday, in Daura, urged Nigerians to pocket monies distributed by vote-buying politicians but vote their conscience regardless.
He also said the new naira policy has ensured a shortage of naira notes that would have been used by unscrupulous elements to influence the outcome of the elections in their favour.
Credit: Stephen Angbulu
As the governorship and state House of Assembly elections commenced nationwide, armed thugs invaded polling unit 003 in Bestford/Ganiyu Yusuff Street, Oke-Afa, Ejigbo in Lagos State.
The thugs, who brandished the All Progressives Congress identity tags, stormed the polling unit and attempted to cart away election materials and ballot boxes and in the process damaged several thumb-printed papers.
Credit: Tessy Igomu
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, for the improvement in the governorship and State Assembly elections.
He also said would accept the outcome of the polls.
Credit: Armstrong Bakam
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, cast his vote in Ward 9, Unit 7A Obio/Akpor Local Government on Saturday.
Photo Credit: Dennis Nakiu, Port Harcourt
A member of the All Progressives Congress has been shot dead in Cross River State.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Saturday morning at Ogoja in the northern senatorial district.
Credit: Ada Wodu
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), cast his ballot in his Daura country home in Katsina on Saturday.
Credit: Facebook | Buhari Sallau
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission have reportedly “refused” to go into the Victoria Garden City area in Lagos State for the conduct of the governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the area on Saturday.
A video shared on Twitter by @Vakkane1 showed the officials sitting under a tent outside the area.
Credit: Gbenga Oloniniran
Some polling units in the Ajiran area of Agungi, Lekki, Eti-Osa Local Government Area in Lagos State were on Saturday morning attacked by hoodlums, who snatched ballot boxes.
Our correspondent observed that the hoodlums attacked PU 108, PU 007, PU 028 and others in the area.
Credit: Sharon Osaji
Former President Goodluck Jonathan votes in his Otuoke polling unit, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State, during the House of Assembly election on Saturday.
Photo Credit: Daniels Igoni
Young Lagosians playing football on the streets of Yaba, Lagos.
Photo Credit: Segun Odunayo
Thugs in large numbers have invaded Adejare Polling Unit in Ilasa, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State to disperse voters who were waiting for officials and ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission to begin voting for the ongoing governorship and state assembly election.
According to an eyewitness, Arome Solomon, INEC officials were nowhere to be found as of 10:12 am, and this left many people stranded until the thugs in the adjoining street invaded the polling unit with daggers and other sharp objects to disperse them.
Credit: Adekunle Sulaimon
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission at Ward C2, Polling Unit 023, Agunfoye community in the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area, Ikorodu, Lagos State, are waiting for more voters to turn out for the Governorship and House of Assembly reactions at the unit.
When our correspondent visited the unit at about 11:48am, no queue was sighted and no voter was seen casting their ballots.
Credit: Samuel Bolaji
The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Senator Halliru Jika, is being accredited by the INEC officials before casting his vote at Kofar Buri, Polling Unit Code 002 in Kafin Madaki, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Jika currently represents the Bauchi Central Senatorial District of Bauchi State.
Credit: Armstrong Bakam, Bauchi
Ogun State Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo cast his vote at ward 3, unit 19, Oluomo quarters, Ifo, Ogun State.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State casts his vote in his Polling Unit.
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, and a former spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, Segun Sowunmi, have lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission over the election process in Ogun State.
Osinbajo, who casts his vote at Polling Unit 14, Egunrege Ward 1, Ikenne in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, described the ongoing governorship and state assembly elections as very peaceful and pleasant.
The governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers State on Saturday witnessed a low turnout of voters.
Unlike the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, which saw a high turnout of the electorate from 8 am, the enthusiasm is absent today.
Speaker, Lagos state House of Assembly, Modashiru Obasa casting his vote at Polling 019 ward E Agege, Lagos.
Oyo State governor’s wife, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, casting her vote at Ward 11, Unit 8, at the North East Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Saturday.
Turnout impressive at PU 048 in Magodo phase one
Turnout was impressive at unit 048 in Magodo phase one as residents came out to vote at 11:00 am.
Kano APC governorship candidate, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, was accredited before casting his vote.
Ogun West senator-elect, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, casting his vote at Polling Unit 009, UAMC Eleja Primary School, Pahayi, Ilaro, Yewa South LGA.
Two boats conveying some passengers were forced to a halt on Saturday by some navy officials deployed to enforce the restriction of movement on the Lagos State waterways.
The boats sighted by our correspondent were seen tied to an anchor as the passengers watched helplessly.
Some marine police officers were also seen conducting a stop and search on the waterways.
Ward 9, Unit 54 INEC, Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State, officials of INEC waiting for voters to cast their votes.
Some journalists deployed to cover the polling unit of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, were stranded as the boat meant to convey them to the location developed a fault shortly after it took off.
They had to disembark from the boat while they waited for another one as of 9:45am.
Contrary to what was obtainable during the February 25 presidential election, there were low turnouts of voters in some parts of Borno State on Saturday.
However, there were timely arrivals of Independent National Electoral Commission staff and materials across polling units in the state.
Some Bauchi residents were seen carrying food items in a white sack along Ahmadu Bello Way, in the Bauchi metropolis, suspected to be for voters’ inducement.
Our correspondent observed that some had one sack, some two while a woman was seen with many sacks inside a tricycle popularly called, Keke NAPEP.
Many voters got stranded on Saturday as armed soldiers enforced a restriction order in Osogbo, Osun State, preventing them from moving to their polling units.
The affected electorate, mainly those living around Owode, Ede, were held up in front of the Osun State House of Assembly for flouting the restriction order.
The Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission’s officials have stormed Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Polling Unit 024, Ward 07, Ungwan Sarki, in Kaduna North Local Government Area of the state.
At exactly 9.35 am, the ICPC officials arrived while some voters were casting their votes.
A voter being accredited at Ward 9, Unit 11 (Adelabu Compound), South East Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Accreditation of voters at Irete polling unit in Omu area of Odogbolu LG area of Ogun State.
The Labour Party candidate in the Lagos State governorship election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, casts his vote at polling unit 045 Anifowoshe Ikeja at 9:45am. He also spoke to journalists about his observation concerning the election in the state.
Delay in the payment of the ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission resulted in a protest at the Registration Area Centre of the commission located in the Amuwo-Odofin Nursery and Primary School, Mile 2, Lagos on Saturday.
Some of the ad hoc staff, who spoke to our correspondent, said that they were promised ₦15,000 each before they left the RAC but they had yet to be paid at past 9am.
One of the ad hoc staff who identified himself as Matthew said, “We were told that we would get ₦15,000 before we leave here but they are yet to pay and are even threatening us.”
Meanwhile, voting has commenced at the three polling units inside the school.
At Unit 6 ward 13 African Church Abeokuta-South Local Government Area of Ogun State, the INEC Official showed the agents of the parties the BVAS ahead of the commencement of the election.
Low turnout as INEC officials wait for Bauchi voters
Armstrong Bakam, Bauchi
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission at the Kofar Maigari Usman 024 polling unit in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State arrived at the polling unit early on Election Day.
However, the officials are waiting for voters to turn out to cast their votes as a low turnout of voters is observed.
Meanwhile, only six voters had cast their ballots as of the time of filing this report. Also, there were no more voters in the queue, and only party agents, election officials, and security officers were left at the polling unit.
Election materials arrived on time and voting commenced as scheduled.
Electoral Officials at Kofar Maigari Usman 024 Polling Unit, in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State waiting for voters to turn out to cast their votes.
Meanwhile, six people have so far voted as there is a low turnout of voters. There were no voters in the queue, only party agents and electoral officials and security were at the Polling Unit.
Election materials arrived on time and voting commenced as scheduled.
There is currently a roadblock at Isiun in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, which has left commuters stranded.
A driver, Francis Oluwaseun, said they had been on the road since 2 am. He lamented that they might not be able to vote owing to the roadblock.
The accreditation of voters and voting have commenced at ward 2 polling unit 32, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos State amid heavy security presence.
Voting has commenced at the polling unit of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, PU 085, ward 3, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State at 8:30am.
Announcing the commencement of the exercise, the Assistant Presiding Officer Unit III of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Adebola Adebiyi said the voting would end by 2:30pm.
DSS officials arrive at Tinubu’s polling unit
Officials of the Department of State Services have arrived at the polling unit of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, in Ikeja, Lagos State, on Election Day.
At 8:35am, election materials and officers left the Registration Area Centre for Atissa Constituency polling units in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
As of 8:24 am on Election Day, there was no presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission at polling unit 045 in Anifowoshe, Ikeja, Lagos State, where the Labour Party governorship candidate for the state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, will be casting his vote.
However, security officers were on the ground as of the time of filing this report.
The Nigeria Police Force has mounted roadblocks at the Berger axis on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to enforce movement restrictions ahead of the governorship election on Saturday.
Motorists travelling along the Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway, on Saturday morning, had a harrowing experience as they were held up in a roadblock instituted by some soldiers.
It was observed that many of the motorists who were tanker drivers were not allowed to pass due to the ongoing governorship and state assembly elections.
One of the soldiers told our correspondent that the road will remain blocked till 6pm.
A tanker driver, Moses Francis, said they have been on the road since 2am.
He lamented that they may not be able to vote due to the roadblock.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission have arrived the polling unit of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu PU06, Eiyekole, Adeniji Adele, Lagos.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission have arrived the polling unit of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu at PU 085, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos amidst tight security.
An Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to uphold democracy and be upright to redeem its credibility ahead of the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections scheduled to hold today.
The group said this in a statement signed by its Deputy Publicity Secretary, Collins Ugwu, and the Secretary-General, Barr. Mark Nduka-Eze, on Friday.
The presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25 were marred with irregularities, late arrival of election materials in some polling units, violence, amongst others
“We call on INEC to uphold democracy today and remove the stigma of being its undertaker rather. You must be transparent, you must be impartial, and you must follow our laws to give Nigerians the desires of their votes without compromise or theatre.
“We demand that INEC should today, unreservedly regenerate the confidence of Nigerians whose unprecedented energy and legitimate expectations for free, credible and transparent elections, before and during the presidential elections was savaged by a cocktail of institutional ‘errors’ and scandalously unprotected ballots, contrary to their strident but now clearly overrated assurances,” the group said.
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SOURCE: The Punch
