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EFCC operatives attacked by suspected vote buyers in Kaduna

Bankole ABE
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EFCC operatives attacked by suspected vote buyers in Kaduna

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been attacked by suspected vote buyers in Kaduna.

The operatives, who were on monitoring duty in the state during March 18 Gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly elections, were attacked at School Road, Unguwan Rimi Kaduna.

According to a report by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the operatives were attacked and injured while attempting to arrest a suspected vote buyer.

“The team, working on intelligence on the alleged activities of one Kabiru Musa, who was seen in an amateur video allegedly inducing eligible voters by using his phone to transfer money into their accounts as they cast their votes, had mobilized to the scene to arrest the suspect.

“However, immediately he was accosted by the operatives, Musa became unruly and screamed to attract the attention of his syndicate members, who descended on the operatives, using all manner of weapons that left some of them injured. It took great restraints for the operatives to ignore the unprovoked attack but insist on arresting the suspect,” the EFFC said.

The Commission said the vehicle conveying the operatives was pelted with stones and other dangerous objects that damaged the windshield, and three investigators suffered varying degrees of injuries in the process.

The anti-graft agency said the injured operatives are receiving medical attention at the Medical Centre of the Kaduna Zonal Command while the suspect is in custody, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The ICIR reported that EFCC teams were similarly attacked during the presidential and national assembly elections.

While reacting to the incident, the Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, commended the operatives for exercising great restraint under extreme provocation. 

He, however, appealed to members of the public to desist from attacking officers of the Commission as such action would no longer be tolerated.

Kwankwanso accuses APC of rigging in Kano

Bankole ABE
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Kwankwanso accuses APC of rigging in Kano

THE candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to rig the ongoing governorship election in Kano State.

Kankwanso said this in a chat with The ICIR at his official residence in Kano.

He said from reports reaching him, the ruling party has been using all manner of strategies to try and rig the election.

“From the report we are getting from our people, we are currently leading but the opposition is trying to be funny.

“They are using all manner of things to buy vote, from N5000, to wrappers and so on,” he said.

The former governor of Kano State said he has so much confidence in his party’s chances of winning the governorship election.

Kwankwaso described the 2023 general elections as the worst form of election he has seen in recent years and advised politicians to stop promoting electoral violence.

Vote buying: EFCC intercepts bales of fabric in Sokoto, arrests offenders in Kebbi, Kaduna, others

Mustapha USMAN  and  Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Vote buying: EFCC intercepts bales of fabric in Sokoto, arrests offenders in Kebbi, Kaduna, others

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) monitoring the ongoing governorship and state assembly elections have intercepted bales of fabric meant for voter inducement and arrested a number of persons suspected to be involved in vote buying in Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Port Harcourt.

The EFFC disclosed this in a statement released via its twitter handle on March 18.

According to the Commission, 35 bales of fabric allegedly belonging to a principal officer of the Sokoto State House of Assembly was intercepted by the team of operatives on election monitoring assignment in Sokoto.

The items have been moved to the Sokoto Zonal Command of the Commission pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Part of the statement read: “In nearby Kebbi state, precisely Argungu local government area, the EFCC team on election monitoring duties also intercepted a suspect with a vehicle fully loaded with fabrics and other items suspected earmarked for voter inducement.

‘The suspect was handed to the Police Area Command at Argungu, for safekeeping alongside the vehicle and the items, while the team proceeded with election duties.

‘In Kaduna, a suspect allegedly involved in vote buying was nabbed at School Road, Unguwan Rimi Kaduna. The suspect who initially resisted arrest, is however in custody, pending the conclusion of the investigation. Also in Kaduna, the Tẹam led by ACE II Esmond Garba arrested one Buhari Muhammed in PU 002 Dogara Yaro Dagari area. He was arrested with Voter Coupons, which he confessed would be used to trace and pay those who voted for his party.

“Furthermore, the team monitoring the voting exercise around LEA Kabala Doki, Kaduna led by CSE Wakilu Omokide also arrested two individuals suspected of vote buying. Upon their arrest, a total sum of N67, 500, a list containing names of voters with their PVC  numbers and their bank account details amongst others, were recovered from them.

“The vigilance of the monitoring teams also paid off in Port Harcourt, Rivers State where two ladies and six men were arrested at different locations (Moscow Road, Elekahia Township and Mile 2) for alleged involvement in voter inducement.

“The suspects were arrested with A4 papers that had names, telephone and account numbers of persons suspected to be voters. The suspects have volunteered statements to the Commission.”

Former Ekiti deputy governor Egbeyemi passes away at 79

Vincent Ufuoma
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Former Ekiti deputy governor Egbeyemi passes away at 79

FORMER Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Adebisi Egbeyemi, passed away early Saturday at a private hospital in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Egbeyemi, 79, was a lawyer and politician.

The details of his death are yet to be disclosed.

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Born on May 8, 1944, Egbeyemi studied law at the then University of Ife between 1977 and 1980 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981.

He served as a youth leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) between 1979 and 1983, a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly in 1983, and was chairman of the Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area between 1991 and 1993. He also served as the state’s commissioner for justice and attorney-general between 2002 and 2003.

In 2018, Egbeyemi was selected as the running mate to Kayode Fayemi, the former governor of Ekiti State, for the gubernatorial election. Fayemi had described Egbeyemi as the best candidate for the job after meeting with the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Guber poll: INEC begins sorting, counting of votes in North-East

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Guber poll: INEC begins sorting, counting of votes in North-East

THE INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the sorting and counting of votes across polling units in the North-East states.

The ICIR reported that governorship election would be held across twenty-eight states and nine hundred and ninety-three state assembly constituency elections.

Officers and ad-hoc staff of INEC started sorting and counting of votes at around 3:00 pm in most of the some of the polling units visited by The ICIR’s reporters.

In Borno State Polling Unit 007 of Bilingwi Ward, The ICIR observed that the voting process was concluded and counting of votes commenced around 3:10 pm. The INEC official reported to have arrived around 8:30 am in the polling unit.

Also electoral officers in Polling Unit 003 Yimirshika in Gwangzang 01 Ward and Polling Unit 020, Shuwari Ward of Borno State has started counting.

Similarly, sorting of votes have started in various polling units like Polling 024 and 026, Karewa Ward in Yola North; polling 018, Lamurde, Mubi South; and Polling Unit 004 Yelwa Ward of Mubi North of Adamawa State.

Electoral officers have started sorting and counting of votes in polling units 11 and 18 of Hardawa Ward, in Bauchi State while many polling units in Taraba State have also commenced sorting.

Guber poll: INEC begins uploading election results

Harrison EDEH
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Guber poll: INEC begins uploading election results

THE Independent National ELectoral Commission (INEC) has started uploading some of the results of the Saturday, March 18 governorhip and state assembly elections via the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

INEC had promised to upload the results of the election after reconfiguring the BVAS machines which were used during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The non use of BVAS for the February 25 election had created confidence crisis for the electoral body, which was heavily criticised by Nigerians and election observers.

Although the Commission cited technical glitches as reason for not using BVAS for result transmission, many critics refused to accept the excuse.

However, the Commission promised to improve and make use of the device in the ongoing election.

The ICIR observed that the result of Ward 001, Polling Unit 039, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa, was uploaded via BVAS around 1:58 pm.

In the House of Assembly election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled six votes while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 13 votes.

Bayelsa is one of the states where there is no governorship election.

BVAS is a device used to register voters. It accredits voters before voting on election day and is used for transmitting election results to the INEC viewing portal after voting.

LIVE Fact-Check: 2023 governorship and state assembly election

Editorial
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LIVE Fact-Check: 2023 governorship and state assembly election

The electorate in 28 States of the Nigerian federation today elect their respective state’s chief executives and legislators to the 36 State Houses of Assembly. 

The Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) brings you live-check of election-related misinformation and disinformation spreading online and on television on March 18 Election Day.

Read election day live check HERE

Do you have an election-related claim you want us to fact-check?

Reach the NFC via HERE.

This page is constantly being updated with verified checks. 

Claim 21

CLAIM: Adamu Garba, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claimed reports of violence in Lagos state are false.

FINDINGS: There have been several reports of violence in different parts of Lagos state. A report by Punch Newspaper showed that there had been incidents of violence at Ilasa,  Oshodi Isolo and Agungi in the Lekki Eti Osa areas of Lagos state. Also, the NFC had confirmed a violent incident in PU 039 in Sabo, Oniba, Ojo, Lagos and Desa polling unit at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos state.

In its live reporting, Arise TV also documented incidents of violence in some parts of Okota in Lagos state.

VERDICT: INCORRECT.

SOURCES: Punch Newspaper, CODE Observer, Arise TV.

Claim 20

CLAIM: Social media users claim the managing director of Kano Line Transport, who is also an APC chieftain, Bashir Aliko Koki, was arrested for electoral violence.

FINDINGS: The NFC contacted the Public Relations Officer, Kano state Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa. He confirmed that some men were arrested for electoral violence in the Gwammaja area of Dala LGA in Kano state.

He added that persons who know Koki claim he was one of the men in the photo. However, the Kano state Police Command is still carrying out investigations to verify the identity of the men in the photo.

VERDICT: UNPROVEN

SOURCE: Kano state Police spokesperson

Claim 19

CLAIM: Sahara Reporters in a Twitter post claims five thugs have been arrested in Anambra state.

FINDINGS: The news of the arrest of five thugs in Anambra state was also reported in other media organisations. Radio Nigeria and Premium Times reported the State Commissioner of Police for Election in Anambra state, Aderemi Adeoye, saying the five thugs were arrested in the Ihiala local government area of the state during the state House of Assembly election on 18 March.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: Radio Nigeria and Premium Times

Claim 18

CLAIM: Viral video on WhatsApp alleges thugs are harassing the police.

FINDINGS: A keyword search on YouTube shows the video was posted a year ago on YouTube shorts by @ejidetv7725. While this is a true event, the video is not about this election.

VERDICT: MISLEADING

SOURCE: YouTube

Claim 17

CLAIM: Former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, claimed that INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, worked under the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, as Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

FINDINGS: Yakubu was the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) from August 2007 to August 2012. Wike was appointed the Minister of State for Education in July 2011.

According to the TETFUND Act, the Executive Secretary is appointed by the President, and he/she reports to the  Board of Trustees.

The Fund is managed by an 11-member Board of Trustees, including a representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Inland Revenue Services.

VERDICT: MISLEADING

SOURCE: TETFUND website 

Claim 16

CLAIM: A blog post by Barristerng, claims the United Kingdom (UK) said its visa application centres in Lagos would be closed on March 20 over the likely outbreak of post-election violence in the state.

FINDINGS: In a statement published on Twitter on Friday, the British High Commission in Nigeria said  its visa application centres (VACs) in Ikeja and Victoria Island will be closed on Monday March 20th to protect the safety of its customers and staff. It added that there are no visa application appointments booked on the said date, and customers will not be able to access the centres to collect documents/passports.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: UK in Nigeria

Claim 15

CLAIM: A claim on Twitter suggests that thugs in Fadeyi area of Lagos, were chanting, “if you no vote for APC, don’t come out o” earlier today.

FINDINGS: After a check using the InVID tool, the NFC discovered that the video has not been posted online before now. Other checks by NFC show that the video is authentic. 

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: InVID

Claim 14

CLAIM: A Twitter user, @ChumaOrji3, claimed ‘PDP political thugs’ were caught at Isi Uzo LGA of Enugu State.

FINDINGS: CODE’s observer in Isi Uzo LGA, Ayogu Friday, who had firsthand information about the incident, confirmed that some thugs were caught and handed over to security agents. However, he could not independently confirm if they were thugs from the PDP. An online newspaper, The Whistler, also reported the incidence.

VERDICT: PARTLY CORRECT

SOURCES: CODE OBSERVER, The Whistler

Claim 13

CLAIM: A Twitter user, @PIDOMNIGERIA, claimed that the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, was hospitalised on Monday and is in critical condition.

FINDING: According to TVC News and other media reports, Bola Tinubu cast his ballot earlier Saturday morning at his polling unit in Alausa, Ikeja area of Lagos State. The NFC contacted Tinubu’s media aide, Tunde Rahman, who clarified that the news was false. He reiterated that Mr Tinubu is fine.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: TVC News; Tinubu’s spokesperson, Tunde Rahman

Claim 12

CLAIM: A Twitter user @KingChrissie2 claimed results from polling units in Rivers state have been uploaded on the INEC result viewing portal as of 9:55am. 

FINDINGS: As of 11:56am when the NFC visited the INEC IReV portal, the result landing page indeed indicates that two results have been uploaded out of over 6, 800 polling units in the state. However, the NFC cannot independently verify the polling units from which results were sent.

VERDICT: CORRECT 

SOURCE: INEC IReV portal

Claim 11

CLAIM: Dino Melaye shared a video of a session in the UK parliament featuring a caption, “game over for the APC as UK parliament confirm elections was rigged.”

FINDINGS: In the video, a member of the UK parliament said some members of her constituency and the European Union have expressed “concerns of serious failures of technology, security and communication in the presidential election.” There was no mention of rigging or any political party.

VERDICT: MISLEADING

SOURCE: Facebook video

Claim 10

CLAIM: The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) claimed that thugs have “reportedly hijacked and destroyed” electoral materials for State House of Assembly elections in four wards in Ogbia Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.

FINDINGS: Daily Trust’s correspondent in Bayelsa State, Willie Bassey, confirmed to NFC that the incident affected four wards as the hoodlums attacked the RAC centre in the community.

He added that the area affected is the Ogbia Constituency 2, Bayelsa State and not in the entire local government. According to a Daily Trust report, an anonymous INEC official states that the materials were burnt. Also, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, confirmed that the report occurred last night.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: Daily Trust, Bayelsa state Police spokesperson

Claim 9

CLAIM: Social media users claimed APC thugs attacked a voter at a polling unit in Desa, Ibeju Lekki, in Lagos state.

FINDINGS: A CODE Observer in Lagos state, Daniel Atebe Joseph, confirmed the incident to be true. However, he told the NFC that he couldn’t determine if thugs were affiliated with any political party.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: CODE Observer

Claim 8

CLAIM:  Sahara reporters reported that thugs had destroyed election materials in Filling Safari, Mazugal Ward, Dala LGA, Kano State.

FINDINGS: Abbas Adamu, a CODE Election observer at the Filling Safari PU, confirmed to the NFC that thugs attacked the polling unit, dispersed voters and destroyed election materials.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: CODE Election Observer

Claim 7

CLAIM: A media platform, Ogun Update, claimed that operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA) had arrested four party agents with over 100 credit cards meant for vote-buying at Ibara Housing Estate in Ogun State.

FINDING: A report by TheCable confirmed the arrest. Also confirmed by NDLEA on Twitter, the agency disclosed that the four agents had N10,000 on each card, which can be activated with a code.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: The Cable, NDLEA

Claim 6

CLAIM: The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) claimed that thugs have “reportedly hijacked and destroyed” electoral materials for State House of Assembly elections in four wards in Ogbia Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.

FINDINGS: Daily Trust’s correspondent in Bayelsa State, Willie Bassey, confirmed to NFC that the incident affected four wards as the hoodlums attacked the RAC centre in the community.

He added that the area affected is the Ogbia Constituency 2, Bayelsa State and not in the entire local government. According to a Daily Trust report, an anonymous INEC official states that the materials were burnt. Also, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, confirmed that the report occurred last night.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: Daily Trust, Bayelsa state Police spokesperson

Claim 5

CLAIM: In a video shared on Twitter, some thugs threaten to kill voters if they don’t vote for APC. The incident was reported at PU 039, Sabo Oniba, Ojo, Lagos state.

FINDINGS: The NFC contacted the Lagos state’s CODE Election observer, Daniel Joseph, who noted that he got reports from the PU that thugs were threatening to kill voters if they didn’t vote for APC.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: CODE Election Observer

Claim 4

CLAIM: Senator Dino Melaye claims that security forces arrested some thugs associated with APC in Lagos state yesterday, March 17.

FINDINGS: The video Mr Melaye tweeted was first shared by a Twitter user on May 29, 2022, with a different narrative. A news media, Oyo Affairs, also made a report regarding the video on the same day, stating police intercepted thugs trying to disrupt APC primaries in Oyo state.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: Oyo Affairs, Twitter

Claim 3

CLAIM: Twitter users claim that thugs have destroyed a polling unit at Sangotedo, Ajah, in Lagos State.

FINDINGS: The NFC contacted the state’s CODE Election observer Daniel Atebe Joseph, who clarified that no election disruptions have occurred in the area so far. The observer stated that the only setback encountered in the vicinity was the case of INEC officials being late, causing rowdiness. However, the situation has been doused.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: CODE election observer

Claim 2

CLAIM: A Twitter user claims that the Lagos chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has collapsed its structure for LP governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

FINDINGS: The Lagos state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked the claim. Also, the Director of Strategy and Communication, Lagos PDP governorship campaign, Seun Soyinka, told NFC that the claim is false.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: Lagos PDP governorship campaign team

Claim 1

CLAIM: Social media users share a letter claiming Labour Party, Lagos chapter has replaced gubernatorial candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour with another.

FINDINGS: The NFC contacted Sam Emeka Okpala, the Lagos state Secretary of the Labour Party, who explained that the widely circulated letter was forged.

Also, the LP Lagos state chapter debunked the report via its Twitter handle, explaining that the candidacy of Mr Rhodes-Vivour had not been changed.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: Lagos State LP  Secretary

 

Nigerian Fact-checkers' Coalition

*This live-check was jointly researched and written by members of the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC): Nurudeen Akewushola, Faith Abeka, Fatimah Quadri (FactCheckHub); Rosemary Ajayi (Digital Africa Research Lab); Daniel Adaji (The Insight); Elizabeth Ogunbamowo, Lois Ugbede, Cole Praise, Silas Jonathan, Temilade Onilede, Lateef Sanni (Dubawa); Catherine Adeniyi, Motunrayo Joel, Allwell Okpi, Seyi Awojuyigbe, Fatimah Abubakar, Abisola Olasupo (Africa Check); Faruk Shuaibu (Daily Trust); Felix Tola-Winjobi (CDD); Rejoice Ewodage, Hannah Ajakaiye (FactsMatterNG); Bunmi Aduloju (The Cable); Shehu Olayinka and Bamas Victoria (The ICIR).

It was edited and approved for publication by Kemi Busari, Caroline Anipah, Simbiat Bakare (Dubawa), David Ajikobi (Africa Check), Ajibola Amzat, and Opeyemi Kehinde (FactCheckHub).

Sorting, vote counting begins in Rivers

Ijeoma OPARA
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Sorting, vote counting begins in Rivers

SORTING and counting of votes have begun in several polling units within Rivers State.

In Polling Unit (PU) 19, Ward 11, Obio-Akpor, the Labour Party (LP) led with 16 votes in the House of Assembly elections and nine for the governorship elections.

The party was followed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), polling three votes in the House of Assembly elections and six in the governorship elections.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got two votes for the House of Assembly and four votes for governorship while the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed with two and three votes for the House of Assembly and governorship elections in the unit, respectively.

In PU 8, Ward 5, in Elelenwo, the Labour Party also won the elections after gathering 58 votes in the House of Assembly and 48 for governorship.

The PDP gathered 36 votes for governorship and 30 for House of Assembly.

The APC followed with 16 votes for House of Assembly and 21 votes for the governorship elections held in the state.

In PU 34, Ward 10, Obio-Akpor, the PDP led with 30 votes in both governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The Labour Party followed with 12 votes in the governorship election and 13 for House of Assembly.

The APC got 11 votes for both governorship and House of Assembly elections held in the unit.

2023 Gov/Assembly Election : Vote-buying recorded in Enugu-East

Harrison EDEH
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2023 Gov/Assembly Election : Vote-buying recorded in Enugu-East

VOTE buying was recorded at polling units 01, 02, and 03 in Ward 8, Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State during the Saturday, March 18 governorship and state assembly elections in the state.

Our correspondent learnt that voters who were confirmed to have voted for a particular political party put down their names and account numbers.

 

Guber poll: Sorting, counting of votes commence in South-East

Mustapha USMAN
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Guber poll: Sorting, counting of votes commence in South-East

SORTING and counting of votes have commenced in the ongoing governorship and state assembly elections in the South-East.

The ICIR reports that 28 states are participating in the governorship election while the state assembly election is going on in all the 36 states.

Officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) started sorting and counting votes at around 2:30 pm in most of the polling units visited by UZABE’s observers.

In Imo state, Ward Obibi1, PU 011 and 010 of Owerri LGA, sorting and vote counting has commenced, although there was low turnout during the voting exercise. In Owerri municipal LGA, New Owerri Ward 1, PU 005, vote counting has started.

Uzabe observers also reported sorting and counting of votes in some other parts of the state.

Similarly, in Enugu State, voting and counting of votes have begun in different polling units across the state. Low turnout of voters was recorded in the state.

In Anambra State, Agu Oka LGA, Agu Oka Ward, PU 001, the officials of INEC has commenced sorting and counting of votes. Also, at St Charles Achina Ward 1, PU 1, counting of votes has started. Uzabe confirmed that sorting and counting of votes have started in some other parts of the state amidst low voter turnouts.

The Electoral body has also started sorting and counting of votes in some polling units in Ebonyi State.

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