OFF-CYCLE governorship elections are underway in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states today, and voters turnout has been impressive.
In some polling units monitored by The ICIR, election officials and materials arrived early, and accreditation of voters commenced as early as 8:20 a.m. Voting also commenced in some other locations at 8:30 am.
The ICIR reports that the election process has been relatively peaceful so far in the three states.
Some presiding officers offered a brief sensitization to party agents on how to conduct themselves before the commencement of voting, and priority voting was given to the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women in most polling units observed.
In the Inorere polling unit, Farm Centre ward, Adavi local government area in Kogi state, The ICIR observed that women were more in the queue than men.
Also, in Nworieubi polling unit 034 in Mbaitoli LGA, INEC officials confirmed that the election started at 8:30 am. The ICIR also observed voters searching for their names.
Meanwhile, some voters lamented the nonavailability of INEC electoral officers at the largest voting centre in Adavi local government area.
In Owerri, electoral materials were deployed early from the local government councils to polling units in the LGA monitored in Imo State.
At Owerri Municipal local government area, sensitive materials left the council at about 7.24 am to various polling units.
However, some voters were seen checking their names on the list pasted on the wall at the council.
Also, in Bayelsa, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Douye Diri has cast his vote in his polling unit.
Before the elections, the Nigerian Police had instructed its officers to ensure the safety of the electorate, INEC officers, and electoral materials, given alleged plans by some groups to disrupt the polls in the three states where the off-cycle governorship elections are held today.
The ICIR reported the top candidates competing for the governorship seats in the three states.
The ICIR, using data in this report, highlighted parties’ chances in the states.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M