Live Updates, Results and Situation Report from Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi guber polls

Residents of Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states will go to the polls today to elect their next governors in off-cycle elections.

These elections will take place in Nigeria’s South East, South South, and North Central regions.

The incumbents in Imo and Bayelsa are seeking re-election, while Kogi State will elect a new governor.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) intends to keep power in Kogi and Imo States, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intends to keep power in Bayelsa.

Bayelsa has been a PDP stronghold since 1999, and the state quickly regained power after losing it in 2019 due to a Supreme Court ruling.

Governor Douye Diri, who is seeking re-election as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, is up against some formidable opponents: Timipre Sylva, a former governor, and Udengs Eradiri of the Labour Party (LP).

The electorate in Kogi State will vote for a new state leader as Governor Yahaya Bello completes his two constitutional terms.

The incumbent endorses the APC candidate, Ododo Usman Ahmed, who is up against Murtala Yakubu Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Leke Abejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had approved 17 candidates for Imo’s governorship election today.

Governor Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Athan Achonu of the Labour Party lead the pack.

Meanwhile, as events unfold, Kanyidaily will provide situation reports from these states.

The late arrival of INEC officials and materials at polling stations is witnessed in Kogi.

The Off-cycle Governorship Election in Kogi saw INEC officials arrive late at polling units in some parts of the state.

The arrival of officials and materials was delayed in most areas surrounding Lokoja.

INEC had stated that materials and officials were expected to arrive at their polling stations/centres by 6:00 a.m.

Adankolo, Lokongoma, and Kpata all faced similar challenges.

Mr. Cornelius Stephen, a civil servant that came from Kano to vote, expressed disappointment with INEC, which had assured timely distribution of materials and arrival of officials at polling units across Kogi.

“This election is different from what we experienced on Feb. 25 and March 18 elections.

“You can see that it’s 7:40 a.m. already, yet only security personnel are around here at St Luke Primary School, Adankolo within Lokoja 1 Ward A,” he said.

The officials for the ward, however, arrived at 8:15 a.m. and moved to their various polling units.

Abiola Choice, Presiding Officer (PO), said that they came late to St. Luke Primary School, Adankolo, because of late distribution of materials at the RAC Centre in Crowder Memorial College, Lokoja.

She added: “Even after we got the materials from the RAC (Registration Area Centres), there was no vehicle to convey us to the polling units.

“As you can see, we are trying to set the tables and also paste the voters registers on the walls for the voters to check their names to come forward for accreditation and voting.

“By God’s grace in the few minutes we shall be done with the setting for the accreditation to commence,” Choice assured.

Again, there were no agents of the 18 participating political parties in some of the polling units.

Voting is yet to commence in Lokoja Metropolis

As of 9 a.m., when polling stations were supposed to open for voting, the exercise had yet to commence across many polling units within the Lokoja metropolis.

At the Ava Junction polling unit, security agencies and voters were on the ground waiting for Independent National Electoral Commission officials who were not in sight.

It was the same situation at the Miami polling unit at Adankolo in Lokoja local government area, where many voters were seen checking their names on the INEC list.

Kanyidaily recalls that Uche Nwosu Predicted APC Victory In Imo Governorship Election.