Polls opened early in many centres in the three states of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi where governors are being elected. The off-season governorship elections have two incumbents – Senator Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) and Senator Hope Uzodimma (Imo) – seeking re-election, while Kogi State will be having a new governor after 48-year-old Alhaji Yahaya Bello completes his second tenure on 27th January next year.
There are fears that the elections would be troubled by violence. Already, a Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sagbama Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa State was abducted early on Saturday while waiting to board a boat to his duty post.
In a statement, the Head of Information and Voter Education at the INEC headquarters in Yenagoa, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah said that the SPO was abducted at the Amassoma jetty while waiting to board a boat to Registration Area-06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama LGA.
Ifogah, who said security agents have been notified of the development, also confirmed that a boat conveying election personnel to Registration Area-17 (Koluama) in Southem Ijaw LGA capsised.
The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission, Bayelsa State Office commenced the movement of Personnel and electoral materials to the Registration Area Centers (RACs) on Friday 10th November, 2023.
“However we wish to confirm that a boat carrying election personnel to Registration Area-17 (Koluama) in Southem Ijaw LGA capsized.
“Fortunately no life was lost as all the election personnel numbering 12 and the boat operator were rescued.
“We however lost our result sheets, power banks and luggage containing personal effects of staff.
“The total number of registered voters in the affected Registration Areas is 5368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5311. INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of election in the affected area.
“INEC also reports that its SPO assigned to Registration Area-06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama LGA was abducted while waiting to board a boat at Amassoma Jetty. The security agencies have been notified”.
In Kogi State, INEC officials arrived early at Nasfat Nursery and Primary School, Lokogoma in Lokoja LGA, where there are three polling units (polling units 38, 39 and 004).
The ad-hoc staff in polling unit 38 arrived as early as 7:28 am and arranged their materials waiting patiently for voters.
In polling unit 39 with 511 expected voters in the same community school, the ad-hoc staff arrived past 7 am and waited for voters.
But, at polling unit 004 in the same school, the INEC officials were not on the ground as of 8:00 am.
In Okene, also in Kogi State, soldiers intercepted and arrested three ‘strange’ black colored security vehicles.
The arrest was effected by soldiers that mounted a barricade at Itakpe Junction shortly before Okene main town.
In Imo State, voting materials arrived early the polling unit in Ikenegbu Layout Primary School, Owerri Municipal Council.
Subsequently, there were minimal human and vehicular movements on the major roads.
INEC officials arrived at the state Govt House booths 001 and 002 at about 9.02 am.
At Polling Unit 012, Central School, Amaimo, in Ikeduru Local Government Area, where the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu will vote, INEC officials and materials had yet to arrive as at 8:45 am.
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 am, 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.
On Friday, businesses boomed for transporters in the state as the INEC and security agencies concluded plans for the election.
