LIVE UPDATES: Kogi, Bayelsa governorship elections begin
Today, Saturday, November 16, has been scheduled for the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Kogi and Bayelsa are among the six states that did not participate in the governorship elections during the 2019 general elections. Others are Anambra, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun.
These states' governorship elections are conducted outside of the election cycle as a result of court judgments that nullified the election of their governors at different times in the past.
Meanwhile, apart from the governorship elections, two other elections will be conducted: the Kogi West senatorial rerun involving Senator Dino Melaye, Smart Adeyemi and 22 other candidates and a supplementary election in six polling units in Brass 1 state constituency, Bayelsa.
As earlier reported by Legit.ng, the electoral body said it had adequately prepared for the elections, assuring that election materials have been distributed appropriately.
The Nigeria police have also given assurance on security during the elections, adding that 66,241 officers have been deployed to the two states.
As the people of Bayelsa and Kogi states troop out to elect new governors, Legit.ng is on ground to provide verified, timely and insightful updates.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better
Kogi, Bayelsa elections: Primate Ayodele reveals winners, slams Trump’s second term bid | - on Legit TV
BAYELSA STATE: Voting still ongoing at Ward 13, Polling Unit 39 of Ogbia LGA
Voting still ongoing at Ward 13, Polling Unit 39 of Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state.
Electorates were sighted still coming to cast their votes as at the time of filing this report.
In other polling units, locals were seen still approaching election officers to have their votes taken.
BAYELSA STATE: Voting continues in Ogbia LGA despite rainfall
Electorates defy the rainfall in polling unit 19, ward 13 of Ogbia local government area to cast their votes.
BAYELSA STATE: Dickson votes, alleges hijacking of voting materials
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa voted at Polling Unit 005, Ward 2, Toru-Orua community, Sagbama LGA.
Speaking at the polling unit, Dickson accused that the APC of working with security agencies to hijack voting materials.
BAYELSA STATE: Pictures of voters as elections continue
BAYELSA STATE: Vote buying in Jonathan’s polling unit
Vote-buying ongoing in Jonathan’s polling unit.
The APC agent for this unit is seen asking electorates to move to the back of a building where voters are asked to collect an undisclosed amount of money for voting for the party’s candidate.
BAYELSA STATE: Bayelsa governor, wife about to vote
The governor of Bayelsa state, Henry Seriake Dickson, arrives with his wife to vote at Ward 2, PU 5, Tori-Orua community in Sagbama LGA.
BAYELSA STATE: Voters undaunted, ready to vote despite cloudy atmosphere
A cloudy atmosphere and an eventual rainfall in Goodluck Jonathan’s polling unit in Otuoke. Electorates remain unperturbed as voting continues.
KOGI STATE: Police maintaining order in Dekina LGA
Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force arrives at a rowdy polling unit in Dekina local government to ensure order.
BAYELSA STATE: Jonathan finally votes
Ex-President Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan cast finally cast their votes.
The former president expressed disappointment in Nigerian youths.
KOGI STATE: SDP governorship candidate Natasha Akpoti casts her vote
The governorship candidate of the SDP in the ongoing election, Natasha Akpoti, casting her vote at ward 1 polling unity 19 Obeiba, Okehi LGA.
BAYELSA STATE: APC governorship candidate votes
According to a tweet by Rythm FM, David Lyon, the APC governorship candidate in the ongoing election, is about to cast his vote at polling unit 1, ward 4, Olugbibori Southern Ijaw LGA.
BAYELSA STATE: Election materials burnt in Ologi community, Ogbia LGA
The INEC commissioner for Ogbia local government area, Nkwachukwu Orji, has revealed that some electoral materials were burnt in Ologi community of the LGA.
Therefore, the process has been disrupted, according to Orji.
In a brief interview with our correspondent and other journalists at the Ward 13, Unit 39 of Otuoke, Ogbia local government area, he informed that election will not hold in that community.
BAYELSA STATE: Jonathan to vote any moment from now
Ex-President Jonathan may come out any moment from now for accreditation and voting as electoral materials have arrived his Ward 13, Unit 39.
BAYELSA: Election materials finally leave Otuoke for their respective polling units
At 11.04am, election materials finally leave Otuoke for their respective polling units after serious delays at the RAC Centre.
BAYELSA STATE: No voting in Outoke yet!
Buses stranded at the RAC Centre in Otuoke as the election materials are yet to be taken to their various polling units.
KOGI STATE: Free drinks for women waiting to vote!
An unidentified woman serves free drinks to women on the queue waiting for their turns to vote in Ogugu Ward 3 in Olamaboro local government area.
KOGI STATE: PDP governorship candidate, Wada, votes
The PDP governorship candidate, Musa Wada, has voted.
According to The Nation, Wada was unable to vote in his polling due to malfunctioning of the card readers but later voted at another polling unit.
BAYELSA: Corp members looking stranded in Otuoke RAC
Corp members looking stranded in Otuoke RAC as they are yet to be mobilized to their respective polling units.
They said the mobilization was supposed to start by 8.30am mentioned by the REC, but they’ve been stagnant since his address about 15 minutes ago.
BAYELSA STATE: Election materials are yet to leave Otuoke Community Secondary School
Election materials are yet to leave Otuoke Community Secondary School which doubles as the RAC centre in Otuoke, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state.
Voters are presently angry that nothing is moving in their region even though others have been voting in other parts of the state.
KOGI STATE: Voting commences in Idah LGA
Accreditation and voting have commenced at polling unit 002, Ede ward in Idah LGA.
KOGI STATE: Edward Onoja votes
Kogi deputy governor, Edward Onoja, votes in his polling unit, Emoyokwu Unit 1, Ogugu Ward 2, Olamaboro local government area.
Onoja is also Governor Bello's running mate in the ongoing election.
BAYELSA STATE: Voting reportedly yet to commence in PDP governorship candidate's LGA
As at 9.10am, voting was yet to commence at Sampou, Kolokuma LGA which is the village of Douye Diri, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s governorship candidate, a report by The Nation has claimed.
The community is flooded and the electoral officials have been displaced and they are still trying to set up.
KOGI STATE: Yahaya Bello, wife cast their votes
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state who is seeking re-election for the second term has stepped out with his wife Amina Oyiza Yahaya Bello to cast his vote.
The incumbent governor and his wife, cast their votes at Okene-Eba/Agassa/Ahache Ward, Unit 11, Okene local government.
KOGI STATE: Accreditation commences at Ward A Lokoja peacefully
Accreditation at Ward A Polling Station, Growther/ Sabongari, Lokoja, was on at 8.35am, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Voters were seen checking their names on the register pasted on the walls of Growther Memorial College, Lokoja, while others lined up, orderly, to be accredited.
The exercise was peaceful and orderly.
Men and officers of the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Customs Service, among other security outfits kept vigil to ensure the maintenance of law and order.
KOGI STATE: Voting about to commence in Ogugu Central School, Olamaboro LGA
An INEC official keeps watch over a ballot box as voting is about to commence in Ogugu Central School, Olamaboro local government area.
KOGI STATE: An INEC official addressing voters at Central School polling unit
An INEC official addressing voters at Central School polling unit in Adumu community.
KOGI STATE: Accreditation and voting reportedly underway in Maigari Palace
According to a tweet by the Nigerian Bar Association, the voting process has commenced in Maigari Palace.
BAYELSA: Jonathan speaks ahead of voting
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed his disappointment at the late arrival of election officers at his ward 13, polling unit 39 in Otuoke, Ogbia local government area, where he is expected to cast his vote.
As at 8.19am when Jonathan stepped out, no election materials were sighted at the polling unit.
KOGI STATE: INEC officials set up polling unit in Olamaboro LGA
INEC officials set up a polling unit in Olamaboro local government area.
KOGI STATE: Voting commences at Ward 07 Kuroko 11 Adavi LGA
Voting commences at Ward 07 Kuroko 11 Adavi LGA.
BAYELSA STATE: Jonathan leaves polling unit as there are no electoral officers available yet
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has just stepped out to check out his polling unit and has returned to his house as there were no electoral officers at the polling unit.
KOGI STATE: Two unarmed policemen sighted at Okegbeliate/Alaicha polling unit in Kogi East
Only two unarmed policemen sighted at Okegbeliate/Alaicha polling unit in Kogi East as against four policemen promised by the IGP, Adamu Mohammed.
KOGI STATE: All appears set in Ogugu Ward 3 Olamaboro local government area
Electorates have started checking their names on the voters register in Ogugu Ward 3 Olamaboro local government area.
KOGI STATE: INEC vehicles waiting to dispatch election
At Dekina local government area, INEC vehicles are still waiting to dispatch election materials.
ATTENTION: These are what you should not do at the polling units, according to INEC
1. In order to protect the secrecy of the votes, electronic devices capable of taking pictures are not allowed in voting cubicles
2. Voters are, however, allowed to go to the polling units with telephones and other electronic devices provided that they do not take them to the voting cubicles or take pictures of other voters while they are voting
BAYELSA STATE: Election materials arrive Nembe
Well guarded by five police officers, election materials have arrived Nembe LGA. INEC staff are also on ground.
KOGI STATE: INEC staff arrives Kogi Koton Karfe LGA
All appears set in Kogi Koton Karfe LGA as INEC staff arrive the area at 7.30am and voters are already at the polling units, according to CLEEN Foundation.
BAYELSA STATE: This is where ex-President Jonathan will be voting today (photos)
Ward 13, Polling Unit 39 in Otuoke, Ogbia LGA where ex-President Goodluck Jonathan will be voting today, is empty as at 7:36am.
BAYELSA STATE: No sign of electoral officers yet in SILGA LGA
There is still no sign of electoral officers or security personnel at polling unit 8, ward 5 in SILGA LGA as at 7.30am, according to Situation Room, a civil society group that monitors Nigeria's elections.
ATTENTION: These are numbers to call in case of emergency
In case there is an electoral or security emergency in your area, these are numbers to call:
Hotlines: 0700-2255-4632
09050858629, 09050858675, 09050858649
08180958715, 08180958717, 08180958709
09025038466, 07086945927, 08120183063
07062896047, 08105119010, 08146697603
KOGI STATE: Personnel and election materials on their way to polling units in Ajaokuta LGA
According to INEC, the last batch of personnel and election materials have moved from RAC to the polling units in Ajaokuta as early as 6.43am.
BAYELSA STATE: No sign of electoral officers in ex-President Jonathan’s polling unit yet
As at 7:20am, there is no sign of electoral officers in ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s polling unit in Otuoke.
Normal activities continue in the town, as Okada riders are seen commuting passengers from one part of the town to another.
BAYELSA STATE: No INEC staff is seen at PU10, Ward 001, Agric Meeting hall, Yenegoa LG, Bayelsa yet
At 7:04am, no INEC staff is seen at PU10, Ward 001, Agric Meeting hall, Yenegoa LG, Bayelsa, according to Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ).
The centre reports that two electorates present at the scene are stranded at the PU, adding that there is no sign that election will commence by 8am there.
KOGI STATE: INEC adhoc staff moving to Igalamela/Odili LGA
INEC adhoc workers are on their to polling units at at Ajaka 1, Igalamela/Odili LGA, Kogi state.
BAYELSA STATE: Unconfirmed report claims election materials hijacked in Nembe
An unconfirmed report coming from a Twitter user, Anthony Ehilebo, claims sensitive election materials have been hijacked in Ward 8,9 and 10 in Nembe local government area.
Recall that Nembe LGA has been identified as one of the hotspots following the violence that broke out in the area of the state on Wednesday, November 13, which left some people dead and others injured.
READ ALSO: Bayelsa election: PDP agents now scared of going to Nembe - Party chieftain
Jerrywright Ukwu Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
Akinyemi Akinrujomu Akinyemi Akinrujomu is a professionally-trained journalist with over 17 years of experience. His knowledge spans print, broadcast, and online media. He has worked in several top media organizations in Nigeria. He has also pioneered several print media publications. He is a graduate of History and International Studies from the Lagos State University and he also holds a professional National Diploma in Journalism. He loves reading, travelling and listening to music.