Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi 2023 Governorship Elections Live Updates: Voting Begins
Welcome to Legit.ng's live coverage of the Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi 2023 governorship elections!
Stay tuned for real-time updates as voting commences in all three states where Nigeria's electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is conducting the off-cycle elections.
Source: Facebook
Refresh your browser regularly to get the latest updates.
Kogi state: Amid result sheet scandal, voting begins in Dino Melaye's ward
Following the alarm of electoral malpractices in some local governments in Kogi state, voting has commenced in the polling unit of Senator Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate.
Senator Melaye had earlier released a video urging supporters and electorates in Kogi state not to vote in any polling unit where officials of INEC do not produce a plain result sheet.
Reports gathered by Legit.ng have confirmed that Senator Melaye is yet to cast his vote at his Iluafon, Ayetore-Gbede polling unit, where voting has already commenced.
Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi guber polls: APC opens situation room in Abuja
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has opened its situations room for the ongoing gubernatorial polls in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
The ruling party confirmed this in a social media post via its X handle on Saturday, November 11.
It was gathered that the situation is located at the party's national secretariat in Abuja.
Imo state: PDP guber candidate, Senator Anyanwu, cast his vote
Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the Peoples Democratic Party's candidate for the Imo state governorship, has exercised his voting right at polling unit 012 in Amimo Central School, Ikeduru Local Government Area.
Similar elections for the governorship and House of Assembly are concurrently occurring in various locations across the state.
BREAKING: INEC opens investigation on filled result sheets found in Kogi state
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the viral video of a filled result sheet found in the possession of an official of the electoral body in Kogi state.
As observed in the video, the election had not commenced when a man at the polling unit raised the alarm about the alleged electoral fraud.
In response to the allegation, INEC took to its official X handle to address the situation, noting that an investigation had already commenced.
The electoral body wrote:
"Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State.
"The Commission views this situation seriously.
"Our senior officials deployed to the State are currently investigating the incident(s). The Commission will communicate its decision earnestly."
Kogi state: SDP's guber candidate, Murtala Ajaka, cast his vote
The gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi state, Murtala Ajaka, has cast his vote.
The former chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was pictured in his native attire, dropping his ballot paper inside the box at about 9:00 am.
Ajaka is seeking to upset the odds after losing a shot at the APC gubernatorial ticket to Usman Ododo, the anointed candidate of the incumbent governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Breaking: Ex-President Jonathan, Wife, spotted at polling unit in Bayelsa
Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife have been spotted at their polling unit 39, Ward 13 in Otuoke, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa state, to cast their votes.
Jonathan was seen donning his traditional south-south attire and trademark black hat, holding hands with his wife.
BREAKING: Fight breaks out in Bayelsa community as INEC officials scamper for safety
An emerging report has confirmed the eruption of violence in the Agudama-Ekpetiama community of Bayelsa state.
It was gathered that the incident transpired on Saturday, November 11, when officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were setting up their tent to commence the election.
However, when a fight broke out between community youths, the INEC officials retreated in their canoe.
Breaking: Governor Douye Diri cast his votes
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has cast his vote as he seeks to retain his seat at the helm of administrative power.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate voted at the PU 004, Sampou/Kalam, Kolokuma/Opokuma LG.
Bayelsa state: Low voter turnout recorded in ex-President Jonathan's LGA
An emerging report has confirmed a low voter turnout in PU 39, Ward 13, Otuoke, Bayelsa state.
The polling unit is under the Ogbia local government, where ex-President Goodluck Jonathan originates.
However, it was gathered that accreditation had commenced as of 8:30 am on Saturday, November 11.
BREAKING: INEC officials stranded in Kogi over transportation to polling units, photos emerge
The Kogi state gubernatorial election has commenced on the wrong foot as electoral officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are reportedly stranded in Lokoja.
As reported by Punch, INEC officials assigned to different polling units in Lokoja for the November 11 governorship elections are currently facing a predicament at the Ajayi Crowther Memorial School.
Despite receiving the necessary electoral materials, including corps members and other ad-hoc staff hired for the election, the officials find themselves stranded due to a lack of transportation to their designated polling units.
Though the officials have received the electoral materials, they are still stranded as no means of transportation to their various polling units was in sight.
The situation has led to a communication from one official suggesting that the only feasible way to reach their destinations is if voters at the polling units arrange transportation.
Presently, only three mini-buses are available to transport over two hundred electoral officials.
Voting to start by 8.30am
Voters are turning up across all the polling units in the three states while INEC officials are also setting up.
Voting is expected to start by 8.30am.
Bayelsa state: Update from Douye Diri's polling unit
Kalaowe Owei, Sampou/Kalama, Kolokuma/Opokuma LG, Bayelsa
This is the polling unit where Governor Douye Diri is expected to cast his vote.
Electoral officers are already on the ground.
Kogi State: Update from Dino Melaye's Polling Unit
Open space, Iluafon quarters, Aiyetoro 1, Ijumu LGA, Kogi
This is the polling unit where Dino Melaye, the PDP governorship candidate, is expected to vote.
An INEC official says voting will commence at 8:30am.
Bayelsa 2023: INEC Supervising Officers taking roll
Ahead of voting, INEC Supervising Officers taking roll calls of ad-hoc staff in Ward 7, Ogboloama, Yenagoa LGA.
Kogi state voters
Registered voters - 1,932,654
Voters with PVCs - 1,824,939
Uncollected PVCs - 107,715
Imo state voters
Registered voters - 2,419,922
Voters with PVCs - 2,318,919
Uncollected PVCs - 101,003
Bayelsa state voters
Registered voters - 1,056,862
Those with PVCs - 1,017,613
Uncollected PVCs - 39,249
Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi 2023 Governorship Elections: How to locate your polling units
If you are an eligible voter in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states, INEC has made it easy to locate your polling unit.
Click here to find your polling unit.
Kogi 2023 Governorship Election: The key contenders
Here are the key contenders in the Kogi 2023 governorship elections:
INEC's data shows that 18 candidates and political parties are participating in the Kogi governorship election. However, the five listed below are considered the major contenders.
- Usman Ahmed Ododo (APC)
- Dino Melaye (PDP)
- Muritala Yakubu Ajaka (SDP)
- Leke Abejide (ADC)
- Usman Jibrin (Accord Party)
Imo 2023 Governorship Election: The key contenders
INEC's data shows that 17 candidates and political parties are participating in the Imo governorship election. However, the five listed below are considered the major contenders.
- Hope Uzodimma (APC)
- Samuel Anyanwu (PDP)
- Athan Achonu (Labour Party)
- Tony Ejiogu (APGA)
- Lincoln Jack Ogunewe (AA)
Bayelsa 2023 Governorship Election: The key contenders
Here are the key contenders in the Saturday, November 11 Bayelsa 2023 governorship elections:
INEC's data shows that 16 candidates and political parties are participating in the Bayelsa governorship election. However, the five listed below are considered the major contenders.
- Douye Diri (PDP)
- Timipre Sylva (APC)
- Udengs Eradiri (Labour Party)
- Waibodei Subiri (APGA)
- Warmate Jones (Accord Party)
Nurudeen Lawal (Head of Politics and Current Affairs Desk) Nurudeen Lawal is an AFP-certified journalist with a wealth of experience spanning over 8 years. He received his B/Arts degree in Literature-in-English from OAU. Lawal is the Head of the Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. He was named the Political Desk Head of the Year (Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award 2023). He is also a certified fact-checker (Dubawa fellowship, 2020). Contact him at lawal.nurudeen@corp.legit.ng or +2347057737768.
Segun Adeyemi (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Segun Adeyemi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience as an active field reporter, editor, and editorial manager. He has had stints with Daily Trust newspaper, Daily Nigerian, and News Digest. He currently works as an editor for Legit.ng's current affairs and politics desk. He holds a degree in Mass Communication (Adekunle Ajasin University). He is a certified digital reporter by Reuters, AFP and the co-convener of the annual campus journalism awards. Email: segun.adeyemi@corp.legit.ng.
