The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Douye Diri, has secured victory at Ward 10 in Sagbama Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa State.

Naija News reports that the incumbent governor polled 216 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), who earned 61 votes, followed by the Labour Party.

RESULT: Ward 10, unit 9 Sagbama LGA, Bayelsa

PDP- 216

APC- 61

LP- 3

However, APC secured 46 votes at Ogbia LGA, polling unit, Ewi-Anyama town, and PDP scored 41, while LP didn’t secure any votes.

RESULT

APC 46
PDP 41

[NaijaNews]

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye, won his polling unit.

According to election results recorded and declared by the presiding electoral officer after ballot casting on Saturday, Melaye defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Ahmed Ododo, with 210 to 22 votes.

Other results at the Open Space Polling Unit in Iluafon Quarters under Aiyetoro 1 registration area of Ijumu LGA of the State, show that ADC got 7 votes, PRP – 2, SDP – 1, NRM – 1, and ADP – 1

Details Later…

[Leadership]

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Constituency 4 of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Basil Kenbo, reportedly escaped death by the whiskers following the invasion of the constituency by armed civilians dressed in military uniforms.

Kenbo, who was reported to have engaged in heated words with the armed men, was nearly killed before the intervention of some youths of the constituency.

Investigations showed that hundreds of voters waiting to cast their votes ran for their dear lives while others protested against the use of civilians in military uniforms without a counter-operation by the Nigerian Army to fish out the impostors.

Fight breaks as INEC begins collation in Imo

There was chaos at Umuodu Community Primary School, Ezinihitte Mbieri, in Mbaitoli LGA of the state, the venue of collation for the ongoing governorship election as some politicians made away with electoral officials and result sheets.

Our correspondent, who monitored the situation, observed that trouble started after the INEC officials had called out the scores allocated to each political party at booths 015 and 016 without entering the same in the result sheets.

At booth 016, the INEC official the following results

LP =19

APC = 21

PDP = 16

ADP = 2

AA = 1

Void = 2

However, the officials were told not to enter the results in the results sheets, a development that sparked a fight among the trio of APC, LP, and PDP agents.

While the fight was ongoing, some politicians believed to be members of the ruling APC in the state, whisked the INEC officials and the electoral materials, including results sheets, away to an unknown destination.

LP accuses APC of hijacking electoral materials

The Labour Party in Imo state has accused members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of hijacking the electoral materials meant for four wards in the Ideato North Local Government Area of the state.

The state chairman of the party, Calistus Ihejiagwa, who made the allegations in a statement he issued on Saturday afternoon, said that the security agents were aiding the APC members to hijack and divert the materials.

He said: “Rigging is ongoing now by APC at Akokwa in Ideato North LGA at the house of an indigene of the area.

“They highjacked all the voting materials from the four wards in Arondizuogu clan and are voting with it there.

“They have about 10 Hilux vehicles with police, army, and NSDC. They blocked the roads and are giving APC cover as they rig the election

“Secondly Governor Hope Uzodimma is moving around here in Ideato North LGA with heavy security men. Right now, he is at the INEC office in Urualla inside the council headquarters manipulating INEC people.”

But the spokesperson for the APC in the state, Cajetan Duke, said there was no truth in the allegation.

He insisted that the APC members are conducting them well in the election.

Imo guber: Gunmen attack vote buyers, snatch over N1.5 million

Suspected gunmen on Saturday afternoon invaded polling units at All Saints Anglican Cathedral and attacked vote buyers.

The gunmen, numbering over 10, also snatched over N1.5 million being shared with voters at the four polling units within the cathedral premises.

Our correspondent, who witnessed the development, saw the gunmen shooting consistently before swooping on the three men sharing the money.

While the shooting was ongoing, some policemen attached to the place took to their heels, while INEC officials at the scene, lay down as they suspected ballot snatchers.

Voters, party agents, and observers, including journalists also fled the voting centres.

The hoodlums went straight to the four points where the monies were being shared and snatched away some of the money

One of the party agents, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that each of the polling units in the place was given N1 million amounting to N4 million for the election.

He said: “But we had already shared a considerable amount of money before the boys struck. I only shared about N500,000 before the hoodlums struck.”

I have great hope for our democracy – LP candidate Achonu

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Saturday, November 11, election in Imo state, Athan Achonu, has declared that he has great hope for the nation’s democracy.

Achonu spoke after voting in his Umunumo Ward in Ehime Mbano local government area of the state.

He said: “I believe that Mr. President wants to give us free and fair election in Imo State. So, I feel great and have great hope for democracy in Nigeria.”

On the voter apathy, Achonu attributed that to the fear over the unusual movement of security personnel in the area.

Achonu noted: “Several of them have never seen this number of security personnel in their lives before. But we were able to douse the tension and reassured them that the security personnel were in the area for their own protection and the protection of the process. So, they will be coming out.”

On the allegations of diversion of electoral materials, he said: “We already have that information and are still verifying them. We even heard that electoral materials for Orsu LGA were diverted to the house of a particular traditional ruler. But, we want to verify them before we go public.”

PHOTOS: Uzodimma votes at PU

Imo Governor, Hope Uzodimma voting in his polling unit in Omuma in the Oru East Local Government Area of the state.

Imo guber: PDP candidate Anyanwu, alleges shootings in his ward

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Samuel Anyanwu, has alleged that there were shootings at his Amaimo ward in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo state.

He said some persons came to his polling unit 012 Central School, Amaimo, and started shooting.

He, however, said they were apprehended, adding that the voting in his ward was impressive. He expressed optimism of defeating Governor Hope Uzodimma, but let us watch the electoral umpire as the election progresses.

Also, in the same local government, precisely at Eziama Uguri Ike ward 013 Amaechi Hall, voting commenced peacefully.

A chieftain of APC from the community, Prince Charles Amadi (Chevron) was optimistic that Governor Hope Uzodimma would win following the impressive turnout in Ikeduru LGA.

He said that he has advised the PDP candidate, Anyanwu to step down for Governor Uzodimma. “Everywhere is Hope. We have advised the PDP candidate to step down.

He commended the INEC for arriving early with all their materials intact. “INEC is doing very well, materials arrived on time. Our only concern is that the Governor’s opponent wants to cause fracas but we are on top of the situation

At Atta Ward 2, Ikeduru, few voters were seen casting their votes. One of the INEC officials said that voting “is going on well. We don’t have any challenges now.”

The Sole Administrator of the LGA, Chidiebere Nwanabu said he has gone around the council area and observed an impressive turnout. He however confirmed security challenges at Amaimo.

Vote buying allegations trail Imo guber election

Members of the major political parties in the ongoing Imo State governorship election have accused one another of inducing voters with money.

It was observed that members of the All Progressives Congress, Labour Party and the the Peoples Democratic Party were giving money to voters at most polling centres visited across the state.

Some polling units in Mbaitoli, Owerri Municipal, Owerri West and Isiala Mbano local governments areas were given N1 0,000 while each voter got between N3,000 and N5,000.

At the GRA Owerri Municipal Council, unit 007 and 008, some voters were being given N3000.

Also, at Ezinihitte Ward Mbaitoli LGA, units 016 and 015, voters were being given N5,000 each.

Similar development was also witnessed in some booths in Isiala Mbano and Ikeduru LGAs.

Imo Guber 2023: Anyanwu, Achonu cast votes

By Alao Abiodun

Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Athan Achonu of the Labour Party (LP) have voted in their respective polling units.

Anyanwu voted at Amaimo Central School polling unit, Amaimo ward, Ikeduru LGA, Imo state.

He arrived around 10:05 am.

Also, Achonu and his wife voted at PU008, Numo Primary School, Umunomu, Ehime-Mbano LGA.

Achonu expressed satisfaction with the process.

Imo monarch denies hijacking Orlu LG electoral materials

The chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Emmanuel Okeke has denied diverting electoral materials for the Orlu local government area of the state to his palace.

Okeke was reacting to the allegations that he and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) hijacked and diverted electoral materials belonging to seven wards in the area to his palace.

But reacting to the allegation, Okeke said there was nothing of such going on in his palace.

While expressing surprise at the allegations, the monarch invited newsmen to visit his palace to ascertain the true situation.

Also, the Labour Party agents have accused the APC of diverting electoral containers gathered at the Okigwe stadium and moving them to the local government secretariat in Okigwe where no other agent is allowed in except the APC.

However, the spokesperson of the APC in the state, Cajetan Duke, said that he could not ascertain the authenticity of the allegations, but insisted that opposition members rather than concentrate on the election, had been busy making wild allegations.

He added that the party did not have the capacity to be involved in any electoral crime.

PHOTOS: Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Samuel Anyanwu casting his vote at polling unit 012 at Amaimo Central School in Ikeduru LGA

PHOTOS: LP candidate, Athan Achonu, and his wife cast their votes at PU008, Numo Primary School, Umuchoke Umunomu, Ehime Mbano LGA, Imo state

PHOTOS: INEC officials at Azuzi Ward 2, Emmanuel College, Owerri Municipal with four Polling Units 001 –  004.

PHOTOS: Accreditation and voting in progress at Boot 021, Amimo Youths Hall, Omuma Oru East LGA.

INEC denies withdrawal of passwords for results upload in Imo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied a report alleging that the commission has withdrawn the password for the uploaded election results from the Local Government Supervisors in Imo.

The commission in a “fake news alert” released to journalists by Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said on Friday midnight described report as untrue.

“The attention of INEC has been drawn to a story attributed to unknown “concerned workers” of the Commission that passwords for result upload have been withdrawn from LGA Supervisors for use by APO1s in Imo State. This is untrue.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Presiding Officers (POs), and not APO1s, are responsible for result upload to the IReV.

“All the passwords have been securely released for use by designated officials in line with the Commission’s procedure.

“The public should expect more of such insinuations before, during and after the elections, and continue to discountance them,” Oyekanmi said.

LP protests as INEC allegedly changes PU officers on Election Day

Agents of the Labour Party at Ikenegbu areas of Owerri Municipal Council in Imo State Girls Polling Unit in the Owerri municipal council protested the alleged swapping of Polling Unit officers already trained on how to make use of the BVAS on Election Day.

This development caused an uproar as the party said it was the INEC‘s plan to rig the election in favour of the APC.

A man who described himself as Madu, one of the potential voters who said he is a member of the Labour Party said that it was surprising that the PU personnel already deployed to the voting centre were changed this morning.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Chibuikem Diala, said that INEC was doing the same thing in all parts of the state.

He said that the campaign organization had discovered that the actual PU officers already trained by INEC were dropped at the last minute and people who did not take part in the INEC’s training were deployed to conduct the election.

He said: “The Senator Athan Achonu Media Centre wishes to alert security agents and patriotic INEC staff, especially those sent from outside Owerri for this election, about plans already concluded to compromise the BVAs for use for today’s election by the RATECH team.

“A reliable intel from some LGAs in Owerri Federal Constituency has uncovered plans by the technical team in those LGAs discussing about issuing wrong passwords to some of the ad hoc staff for this election.

“Specifically, this devious plan was being discussed at the Owerri Municipal and Owerri North Local Government Areas where the Head of the RATECH team has concluded plans to issue wrong passwords to PO especially those posted to polling units with large voters. According to the source, the instruction is to ensure that some of the BVAS malfunction at the Polling Units.

“The purpose is to either generate a fake result or frustrate the voting process in specific areas where the riggers do not have a strong presence. This is shameful and devilish.

“All party agents in every booth and ward, as well as voters should hold the ‘RATHEC Team responsible, not the POs, wherever BVA password is wrong because it has been compromised. We also urge all POs to escalate this criminality wherever it is found.

“The agents and indeed all Imo Voters must resist this and insist that the proper thing is done.

“We vehemently condemn this evil plot and call on the INEC Commissioners we have been told were seconded to the state to ensure a free, fair, and smooth exercise to forestall this, as the opposition parties can never accept it.

“We request that the head of the RATECH team in Owerri Federal Constituency and indeed all other LGAs should be cautioned before they discredit a process that is meant to yield positive outcomes.

“We also charge security operatives to ensure that compromised INEC staff do not create a crisis during this electoral exercise.”

The spokesperson of INEC, Emmanuella Opara could not be reached for a reaction.

PHOTOS: Voting begins at Imo State Government House Polling unit 001

PHOTOS: Voting materials arrive Imo PU

Voting materials has arrived at the polling unit in Ikenegbu Layout Primary School, Owerri Municipal council, Imo State.

Security personnel mounted check points on major roads as early as 7:00a.m. in Owerri and environment in enforcement of the restriction on movement.

Subsequently, there were minimal human and vehicular movements on the major roads.

INEC officials arrived at Imo State Govt House booths 001 and 002 at about 9.02am.

At Polling Unit 012, Central School, Amaimo, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state, where the PDP candidate, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu will vote, INEC officials and materials had yet to arrive as at 8:45a.m.

There were also no presence of security personnel at the polling unit, but voters were seen around waiting to exercise their franchise.

A voter, Mr Ibe Chika, said he arrived the polling unit as early as 8:00a.m., but was disappointed that no INEC official had arrived.

There is tight security around Okigwe road. Soldiers were seen searching vehicles and interrogating passengers and passersby.

PHOTOS: INEC officials setting up voting Centres at Booth 007 and 008, Adult Education Centre, GRA, Owerri Municipal Council, Imo State. 

Businesses boom for traders, transporters as Imo goes for election

Businesses on Friday, November 10, boomed for transporters as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies concluded plans for Saturday, November 11, governorship election in Imo state.

It was an equally similar development as traders in various markets within the state capital made brisk business when residents engaged in last-minute buying.

Our correspondent who monitored development, observed that thousands of bus drivers were engaged by INEC to convey electoral materials and personnel to various Registration Area Centres (RAC) and polling units.

It was also observed that more of that number were hired to convey security operatives to various locations in the state.

At the government house roundabout, thousands of buses were seen getting ready to convey police personnel to various locations.

However, the development affected the cost of transportation in the state on Friday as a few available buses on the road, hiked transport fares.

Passengers were also seen stranded as they made efforts to travel to different communities where they would cast their vote during the election.

For instance, a trip from Owerri to Orlu which hitherto was N1,500 was hiked to N2,000 and N2,500 depending on the type of vehicle.

A commuter, Chidi Uzoho lamented that he had been at the bus stop for over two hours waiting for a vehicle to convey him to Amaku in Isiala Mbano, where he intends to cast his vote tomorrow.

A bus driver, plying Owerri-Okigwe, Jamachi Onwuchekwa told our correspondent that he had to increase the transfer fare because of the pressure on him by passengers.

“Most of our colleagues were hired to do election duty and that left us with very few vehicles, particularly Siena. With that, we are having plenty of passengers on the road with many of them agreeing to stay four per seat instead of the normal three per seat even when the price is doubled. So, it’s not our fault”, he said.

Also, when our correspondent visited Ekeonunwa, Relief and World Bank, Nkwor Orji, and Amakohia markets in Owerri, the state capital, residents were seen making last-minute buying to beat the 12:00 midnight deadline for the restriction of movement ahead of the election tomorrow.

At Ekeonunwa market, a resident who identified herself simply as Mrs. Ijeoma Chikere, said she was at the market to buy food items that would sustain her family on Election Day and the day after.

“As you know, the movement will be restricted tomorrow, the day of the election. And the day after the election is Sunday, a day set aside to worship God. So, it is important that those of us with family should prepare for the long weekend.”

Police ready to provide adequate security in Imo – DIG Mba

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Imo State governorship election, Frank Mba, has said the police is ready to provide adequate security for the voters saying the state is not a war zone nor on fire.

Mba made the disclosure while addressing newsmen on the level of preparedness for the Saturday polls on Friday at the command headquarters, Owerri.

According to him, the police and other security agencies will do everything operationally and administratively to provide a level playing ground for all the political parties.

The DIG said: “Whatever the security concerns of the state, they are not unsurmountable because they are clearly things we can surmount. I’m positive that we will deliver.”

Yiaga Africa predicts low voter turnout in Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa governorship elections

By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

An election observer group, Yiaga Africa, has predicted low voter turnout for the Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi Governorship elections despite a high collection rate of permanent voter cards.

The organisation based the prediction on the “pre-election violence, a deep sense of citizens’ distrust, apparent fear of intimidation, voter fatigue and loss of faith in elections as a means to achieving democratic leadership.”

To avoid the situation, Yiaga Africa advocated for eleventh-hour confidence-building voter education to improve voter turnout.

A member of the Board of Yiaga Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu stated this during a pre-election press conference on Friday in Abuja.

The organisation would be deploying 659 duly trained and accredited stationary and roving observers to observe the conduct of the governorship election in the three states.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the number of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) collected in Bayelsa was 1,017,613, in Imo, 2,318,919 and 1,833,160 in Kogi state.

“Despite these high collection rates, Yiaga Africa projects low voter turnout in the respective states owing to the spate of pre-election violence, a deep sense of citizens’ distrust, apparent fear of intimidation, voter fatigue and loss of faith in elections as a means to achieving democratic leadership. Yiaga Africa advocates for eleventh-hour confidence-building voter education to improve voter turnout.”

He said at the end of the polls, Yiaga Africa observers would be deployed to all LGAs and State’s results collation centres to observe and report the results collation process.

Nwagwu said: “This will involve deploying 600 stationary observers to a representative randomly selected sample of 300 polling units for each of these 2 states. In addition to the PRVT methodology, Yiaga Africa will deploy 9 observers in Bayelsa State to observe the process and LGA results collation.

“This deployment will enable Yiaga Africa to provide the most timely and accurate information on the governorship elections in the states. Using the Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT), Yiaga Africa will also provide an independent projection of voter turnout in Imo and Kogi States and will be able to project the vote shares that each party should receive within a narrow-estimated range. If the official results fall within Yiaga Africa’s estimated ranges, then the public, political parties, and candidates should have confidence in the ballots cast at the polling units.

“Only INEC has the legal mandate to announce the election results. As soon as INEC announces the official results, Yiaga Africa will follow up with a result verification press conference to share its statement on the accuracy of the election results. Utilising information communications technology and statistical principles, PRVT is the gold standard for citizen election observation and has been utilised throughout Africa and the world. Yiaga Africa has also deployed this methodology in the 2019 & 2023 Presidential elections and in 14 State Governorship Elections.”

Yiaga Africa also called on INEC to ensure the operational shortcomings in previous elections are properly addressed ahead of the elections, especially the early deployment of election materials to all polling units.

He said: “Collation and Returning Officers deployed in the election should be individuals of proven integrity and impeccable character. INEC should ensure effective oversight to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and guidelines on results collation.

“INEC should ensure proper and timely communication with stakeholders on the election day process, challenges experienced and immediate plans to address those challenges to inspire citizens’ confidence in the process.”