As APC is in control of the presidential seat and 8th National Assembly due for inauguration on May 29 and June 4 respectively, the final battle is set for the control of the 36 states and the state House as PDP and APC will be having the show down today being 11/04/15.
From reports today, INEC, security agencies , said they are ready to conduct today's election based on their preparations in the various 36 states as stated below;
Borno State
From Maiduguri, TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Borno is set for today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.
INEC Resident Electoral (REC) in the state, Mr Samuel Madaki told journalists in Maiduguri that the office has received both sensitive and non-sensitive materials, adding that the non-sensitive materials have been distributed to all local government areas considered to be safe for elections to take place. He said other sensitive materials would reach polling areas by yesterday (Friday.)
He said the his officials reviewed their operations shortly after the last presidential poll. “After the presidential election, we invited all electoral officers to review our performances and I believe we will come out better in today’s election,” the REC assured.
Though no new security arrangement is noticed in Maiduguri as at the time of filing this report but a military source told Saturday Sun that some troops were being redeployed to other parts of the state to boost the personnel on ground for improved security particularly during today’s election.
Politicians were also seen putting finishing touches to their campaigns on Thursday afternoon ahead of today’s poll. Incumbent Gov Kashim Shettima of the APC who is seeking re-election into the Maiduguri Government House and his challenger, Alhaji Gambo Lawan of the PDP held series of meetings, mobilisation and engagements with various organised groups and supporters throughout the week.
Most residents expressed their readiness to participate in today’s poll even as some complained they may boycott it due to the harsh weather condition. “I don’t think I will vote. I can’t stress myself queuing in the sun with the weather now,” says Aliyu Birma, a civil servant.
But Mohammed Lawan, a trader said he was ready to vote, boasting that nothing would stop him from exercising his civic right. “It’s the end of the voting and nothing can stop me, not even the bad weather. Thank God for gradual return of peace now,” he said.
Rivers State
TONY JOHN reports from Port Harcourt that the governorship and House of Assembly elections are going to be fight-to-finish between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is so because, the APC, which has secured leadership at the centre, would like to prove PDP wrong on the 1.4 million votes polled at the last presidential election. Similarly, the PDP would not allow the effect of the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan at the last poll, to undermine their avowal to clinch victory today.
Though, there are other political parties like Labour Party, Social Democratic Party and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, the foremost two, PDP and APC are neck-to-neck in the contest. They have vowed to clinch victory over each other.
The two major political parties have also been accusing each other of plotting to rig the election. Even, at the stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, convened by security agencies with the two prominent gubernatorial candidates, Chief Nyesom Wike (PDP) and Dr. Dakuku Peterside, (APC), with party leaders, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in attendance, at the state Police Headquarters along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, the two political gladiators, still, tackled each other on alleged plot to rig.
Since the March 28 presidential election, the state governor Chibuike Amaechi, members and supporters of APC have been calling for the removal of the State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dame Gesila Khan. They have not hidden their disaffection for the REC, even leading to staging a protest in Abuja, calling for her removal.
Meanwhile, PDP, in reaction to the protest in Abuja, said it was a calculated attempt by APC to scuttle the today’s election. It also maintained that APC was not happy because the REC failed to do their bidding, having failed in their alleged numerous attempts to persuade the INEC boss in the state to write election results in favour of the APC.
The APC recently claimed that it has lost 56 members in the state as a result of political violence. Consequently, Governor Amaechi has said he would establish a Judicial Commission of Enquiry on presidential election deaths. In fact, after the polls, political killings still occurred, with the assassination of a former local government chairman, his daughter, two sons and five other persons, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
All these instances have created much fear in the electorate who have stated that without adequate security put in place, they would not risk their lives in today’s elections.
As such, during the stakeholders’ meeting, the Commissioner of Police on election duty in Rivers State, Hosea Karma, stated that “massive” armed security men would be deployed to contain any unholy challenge from political thugs.
His words “I want to assure each and everyone here that, we the security agencies, have agreed as a body, that we are going to be non-partial and create a level playing ground for everyone that is going to play role in this exercise. In order to achieve that, we are going to have massive deployment of security men. Security men given to individuals when they were campaigning have been withdrawn.
“The movement of personnel and entire people of the state are going to be restricted. That restriction, we have no respect for anybody’s position. As from 12 midnight Friday, our men will be properly deployed to restrict everybody’s movement, except persons going to vote.
“For those who are privileged to have security men attached to them and are yet to be withdrawn, I will advise them that, that day, their security men should pull off their uniforms and remain at home because, even if you are genuine policemen or military or any of the security agencies, if you are not on duty you must not escort anybody because you will be arrested. Any of our personnel that tries that will put his job on the line and I want to warn them that the moment they cease to be military personnel, I am sure nobody will need their service again. Based on that we have decided to withdraw security men given to individuals for security before this time when they were campaigning.
“Killing is killing, if you kill somebody it is murder. One thing I will remind us all here is that all the incidents that have taken place where lives are lost and properties damaged, they will not go free and one thing I want to remind all of us here today is that only two people will have immunity – any person that will win the governorship and his deputy, the rest of us here are subject to arrest and prosecution if we allow ourselves to be lured into criminality.
Also, the REC, Dame Khan, at the meeting, pointed out that, out 26,000 ad hoc staff the Commission was supposed to use, only 4,500 reported for training. “It is common knowledge that we are using 26,000 ad hoc staff. When some passed out, only 4,500 turned up for training. The collation officers, all the names came from Abuja”.
Meanwhile, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, who visited the state on Thursday, to address the Corps members ahead of today’s elections, emphasised their safety. He charged authorities concerned with the elections to ensure that adequate security was provided for the Corps members.
Cross River
From Calabar, JUDEX OKORO, reports that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr. Okey Ezeani, has said that INEC is fully prepared to conduct free, fair and credible poll today.
Fielding questions from newsmen in Calabar on the state of the Commission’s preparedness, Ezeani disclosed that they have received all the materials from the national headquarters and that they have been distributed accordingly.
Ezeani said, “We are prepared for today’s election. We have received non-sensitive materials and have accordingly distributed to all the 18 local government areas as at Thursday. For the Riverine areas, we shall send both sensitive and non-sensitive to the communities early enough.
“The Commission has carried out aggressive enlightenment programmes to educate and sensitise the electorate on the dos-and-don’ts about the election just as we have had series of meeting with stakeholders including the military, para-military and the police force on how to collaborate on the election.”
On complaints about the card reader, the Resident Electoral Commissioner said, “We are not contemplating dropping it; there is no going back on card reader no matter what electorate are saying.”
On the security situation in the state, it was learnt that some flash points including Calabar South, Akamkpa, Yakurr, Abi, Biase and Obubra, security agencies have sent in combined teams of personnel made up of the military, police and para-military officers to patrol the axis and possibly forestall breakdown of law and order.
Katsina State
From Katsina, ANDY ASEMOTA, reports that moves by the PDP and the APC to have an upper hand in today’s polls are generating a lot of heat within the state.
A long drawn-out road show of PDP supporters brought vehicular movement in major streets in Katsina metropolis to a halt on Wednesday evening as scores of people on foot and slow moving vehicles marched through the city in a show of strength apparently to douse the rumours that the party was already jittery following the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC as the President –Elect.
The campaign train immediately sparked fears that some political thugs might be up to some mischief. Aliyu Abdulrahman, a resident, told Saturday Sun that he was one of those worried about the likelihood of anything untoward happening because it looked like some youths opposed to the PDP might clash with the party supporters.
Aliyu, who noted that the PDP road show was peaceful, added: “The heavy presence of police along the route and embedded in the campaign train could have saved the day.”
After the PDP march through Katsina, residents of the city and APC faithful across the state, trooped out in large numbers on Thursday to welcome General Buhari on the last lap of APC campaign ahead of today’s polls.
The excitement and the zeal of the residents who stormed the Katsina Polo ground, venue of the campaign rally, were palpable as they came into Katsina in long trailers, buses and other vehicles.
By 2 pm, there was a large turnout of people at the Polo ground for General Buhari who arrived shortly after.
Giving insight into the relative peace in the preparations ahead of today’s elections, a senior police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Saturday Sun that the police had put in place security strategies to ensure peaceful campaign rallies and elections.
Investigations conducted round the state showed that only very few skirmishes arising from political activities were witnessed in the state so far.
On Monday, April 6, five of the vehicles parked at the Katsina country home of the governorship candidate of the APC, Aminu Masari, had their windscreens smashed by suspected political thugs who trooped to the house and started hauling stones, broken bottles, sticks and other dangerous weapons at the vehicles outside the sprawling mansion.
Security guards in the house were said to have arrested three of the suspects while their accomplices fled.
In another breathe, the PDP governorship candidate in the State, Musa Nashuni, was endorsed for today’s election by no fewer than 13 of the registered political parties in the state on Wednesday, April 8.
On its part, the PDP was billed to lose about a dozen of its big wigs on Thursday to the APC in Katsina as at the time of this report. It was gathered that Buhari, would personally receive the personalities lost by PDP to APC.
Oyo State
From Ibadan, OLUSEYE OJO reports that there is palpable fear across the 33 local government areas over the governorship/state assembly elections that will hold today. The fear is literally thick to the extent that it can be cut with a knife. The development is based on speculation that the elections may be riddled with violence.
Already, there is panic buying of food items. A visit to markets in Bodija, Oje and Bashorun revealed that many people stormed the markets to buy food items that could last their families for more than two weeks in case of post-election violence.
The pockets of violence in some parts of the state in which a number of people either lost their lives or sustained varying degrees of injury could have been responsible for the shivers running down the spines of residents.
Also, the Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Reverend Gabriel Abegunrin, at a press conference in Ibadan on Wednesday ahead of a three-day international pro-life and pro-family conference organised by the Ibadan Catholic Ecclesiastical Province, scheduled to commence on April 13 in Ibadan, also urged politicians to respect the sanctity of human life.
He was worried by the spate of electoral violence in some parts of Nigeria, saying: “The present situation of continual bloodshed due to wanton killing, terrorism, inter-ethnic conflicts, ritual killing, armed robbery, murders, traffic accidents and suicide in Nigeria seriously calls to question our identity as Africans and our civility as a nation.
“As the general elections continue in Nigeria, we feel compelled to speak up for respect for human life and dignity and the recovery of family values among our people.”
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, also confirmed that he received an intelligence report that “some disgruntled politicians have decided to hold nocturnal meetings in their premises or houses with criminal motive to cause breach of peace should they lose election.”
The police, according to him, are closely monitoring such individuals and warned that should the intelligence appear to be credible, the police would not hesitate to bring them before the law, adding: “We also assure the public that we are determined more than ever before to protect every single soul from the activities of any predatory anti-social elements.”
Katsina, who stated further that over 21,000 policemen have been deployed to ensure security during the elections, said: “With the receipt of additional special forces, officers and men of the Special Protection Units (SPU), the Ambush Squad, Bomb Disposal Unit, the Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Intelligence Unit and Police Mobile Force from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, all totalling over 21, 000, we are confident to assure members of the public that Oyo State Command is adequately ready for the election.
“It is also imperative to add that with the existing synergy between the police and other security agencies in the state; clear line of engagement has been established. The military’s contribution in this regard will be specifically to man strategic areas in the state to enable them respond adequately to any life-threatening scenario.”
Katsina also warned that any politician found using police escort on the election day would be arrested and such police escort withdrawn, urging “the good people of the state to come out en masse to exercise their franchise.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday April 7, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state took delivery of sensitive materials for the elections such as ballot papers and score sheets from the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN). The materials, which arrived INEC office at 2:45p.m, were conveyed in three trucks. They were received in the presence of representatives of some political parties.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, said the ballot papers would be distributed on the basis of permanent voter cards (PVCs) collected by voters, noting that it was aimed at preventing electoral malpractice that may occur with excess ballot papers.
He said today’s elections affect the people of Oyo State more than the presidential polls held on March 28, and enjoined eligible voters to troop out and vote for the candidates of their choice.
He explained that 12 governorship candidates would contest for the gubernatorial seat of the pace setter state today. They include the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Senator Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord; Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Senator Teslim Folarin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Akeju further revealed that 265 candidates from 14 political parties are also jostling for the 32 seats in the State House of Assembly. He also stated that smart card readers would be fully deployed and utilised for the elections, promising that wherever a card reader malfunctioned, a replacement from the contingency arrangement would be provided.
He also said the Commission would provide needed materials in the required quantity with well-trained personnel for today’s elections.
However, the Accord and LP have alleged that during the March 28 elections, there were reports of insufficient ballot papers, voting in the night without light, late arrival of INEC officials to polling centres, failure of card readers, manipulation of election results from the polling units to collation centres, non-conformity of number of accredited voters with total votes cast, discrepancies between figures on Form EC3A and EC3B when results moved from one place to the other and so on.
Imo State
From Owerri, GEORGE ONYEJIUWA reports that the political atmosphere in Imo State is highly charged as the 22 governorship candidates of the various political parties prepares to do battle today.
But the candidates of three major political parties; the APC, PDP and APGA who are the major combatants have vowed to “ Capture” the Douglass House Imo seat of government as they have continued to throw brick brat at each other.
There have been reports of skirmishes among the supporters of the PDP, APC and APGA, where the billboards of the candidates of APGA Captain Emmanuel Iheancho and the PDP Hon.Emeka Ihedioha were allegedly destroyed by the supporters of Governor Rochas Okorocha, as well as retaliatory action by the supporters of APGA and PDP who also allegedly pulled down the campaign billboards of the governor.
Even the famous Odenigbo governorship debate which was organised by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri could not hold for the first time as suspected thugs of one of the parties invaded the premises of the church and disrupted the event. This was regardless of the signing of a peace pact initiated by the Imo state police command among the gubernatorial candidates of the parties after several postponements, which was indeed a foretaste of what to expect at the gubernatorial poll which is of more interest to the people than the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections held two weeks ago.
Although during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the PDP in the state won the three senatorial seats and eight out of the ten House of Representatives seats, while the APC won only two House of Reps seats in Ideato North/ South and Okigwe South.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Ada has said that the Commission will improve on its performance during the presidential elections and that distribution of electoral materials to the 27 council areas of the state commenced on Thursday.
Dr Ada also revealed that PVC will be used during the elections and that card readers will still be used for both accreditation and verification unlike in the presidential and National Assembly elections where manual accreditation was used where the card readers failed.
However, he said that in the governorship and state Assembly polls today, only the card readers would be used and that in situations where it failed to function, that elections in such polling unit will be held the next day( Sunday).
The Imo REC further disclosed that all results generated at polling units must be announced and a copy pasted at the respective polling units ,same for the ward collation centres and the local governments by the electoral officers and returning officers before being finally announced at the state INEC headquarters.
He maintained that INEC is poised to conduct a free, fair and credible elections and called on all stakeholders to come out to exercise their civic responsibilities.
On its part, the Imo State Police Command has assured the people of the state that they have nothing to fear today as the command has deployed over 6,000 men across the state in addition to the personnel of other security agencies who are already on ground to ensure that the elections are conducted under the atmosphere of peace.
The state police boss, Austin Evbakhavbokun warned that people who do not have any business at the polling units should stay away or be dealt with.
He further warned that all private security agents and vigilante groups are not permitted to monitor the election as they will be arrested and prosecuted.
“The police and other sister security agencies are on ground to ensure that the governorship and that state Assembly election is conducted under an atmosphere of peace and we want to ensure that the relative peace witnessed during and after the Presidential and National Assembly election is maintained and we have already spoken to the various parties to strictly observe the electoral guidelines in their own interest”, he added.
Delta State
From Asaba, PAUL OSUYI, reports that the outcome of the presidential election has unsettled political calculations for today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in Delta State with the three main contenders making last minute efforts to win sympathy of voters.
The major candidates in the race to succeed incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan are Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Great Ogboru of the Labour Party (LP) and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Before the presidential election which was won by General Muhammadu Buhari of APC, analysts had already concluded that Delta remains a PDP state and today’s election will be won by the ruling party.
However, Buhari’s victory has been a major boost for the APC campaigners who hinged their permutation on need to avoid being in opposition to the federal government in the next dispensation.
But the greatest undoing of the APC is the fact that Buhari’s victory has only succeeded in attracting pockets of defectors from the ruling party, and the fact that both Ogboru and Emerhor hail from Delta central senatorial district which might cost them bloc votes.
Meanwhile, campaigns for the top job in the oil-rich state have remained peaceful and generally devoid of mudslinging and character assassination, a situation that has drawn applause from Governor Uduaghan.
Uduaghan at a forum between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and leaders of various political parties in Asaba commended the candidates for upholding peace as they continue to solicit votes across the state.
“We want to thank the gubernatorial candidates for their peaceful campaign so far. You have campaigned in a manner that civilised people are allowed into all areas to campaign. I want to appeal that we maintain the peace; Delta State needs peace, God will give us a peaceful person that will take over from me because Delta state is a peaceful state,” the governor said.
On preparations for today’s election, Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Aniedi Ikiowak assured that there would be massive improvement on the March 28 presidential election.
Ikoiwak maintained that the Commission would stick to the use of card readers for accreditation and will not revert to manual accreditation where the card reader mal-functions, saying that the election will continue the next day.
He explained that the insistence on the card readers was to enable INEC properly audit the result of the elections.
Saturday Sun findings revealed that 16 political parties would be featuring candidates for the governorship election while 208 candidates will be flying the flags of 23 political parties for the 29 available seats at the state House of Assembly.
Besides, spokesman for the Commission in the state, James Popoola disclosed that over 21,000 ad-hoc staff have been trained and deployed to the 3,624 polling units in the state.
According to Popoola, non-sensitive materials have already be dispatched to the 466 Registration Areas (Wards) of the 25 local government areas of the state while the sensitive materials were being moved from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Asaba to the various council headquarters as at the time of filing this report.
In the meantime, 16,000 security personnel have been deployed for the elections, according to the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Celestina Kalu.
Kalu warned politicians to play by the rules of the game, advising those with police escort and orderlies not to move about with them.
She urged candidates for the election to vote at their designated polling units and avoid moving from one unit to the other in order not to incur the wrath of security agencies.
“We are ready for this election and we advise all stakeholders to abide by the rules as spelt out by INEC. The command will not hesitate to deal decisively with anybody who flouts the rules no matter how highly placed,” she stated.
Zamfara State
From Gusau, ATTAHIRU AHMED reports that the state police command has warned vigilant group, Hisbah, newly established ZAROTA and any other private security agents to stay away from polling stations today.
Speaking in an interview, the state police Commissioner Mr. Olufemi David Ogunbayode explained that adequate security personnel have been deployed and fully prepared for a peaceful conduct of the exercise in the state.
The commissioner pledged to carry every political party along by giving them protection during the elections and beyond in the state.
He maintained that the command will deal with anybody found breaching the guiding principles contained in their peace agreement.
He further advised politicians to adhere with the peace agreement and avoid any form of thuggery capable of compromising the effort of INEC towards free and fair elections in the state.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Wara also disclosed that the Commission was highly prepared with all the necessary arrangements aimed at credible and acceptable governorship and state assembly elections.
The INEC chief who was represented by the director information of the Commission Malam Garba Galadima maintained that INEC was committed to conduct unbiased and acceptable elections.
He stressed that all materials would be sent to appropriate destinations in good time to avoid unnecessary delay.
Kano State
From Kano, DESMOND MGBOH reports that the situation in the State is not as tense as it was during the presidential elections. Residents are going about their businesses without fears.
Many of the members of non -native community and the Christian community who fled the state following threat of ethnic /religious violence against them have started creeping back to the state to resume their disrupted life.
On the political front, the sweeping success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential polls, in addition to the attendant celebration of the people of the state to the victory of the party, appeared to have demoralised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They seemed to have resigned to fate going by their unusual silence ahead of today’s polls.
Despite this seeming calm, in the political scene, the security agencies in are not living anything to chance. All the details are to be checked out.
The State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim. K. Idris said that all the security conditions that were implemented to give the state a successful and rancor- free presidential election will be retained in the state today.
Speaking on behalf of the Kano State Inter- Agency Consultative Committee on election security, the Commissioner of Police stressed that all quasi -security bodies in the state like KAROTA and Hisbah Guards are banned from participating in the election today.
He also noted that the ban on movement of persons from ward to ward and from one local government to another will be enforced, adding however that only those on essential duties like doctors and nurses would be exempted.
He also disclosed that the ban on movement would come to effect from 6.00 am on Saturday, to be eased by 6 00 pm on the same day, unlike in the presidential election when a similar ban kicked off at 12 mid night.
Stressing the need to improve on the success recorded in the state during the last elections, he urged the people to be patient, orderly and to give the electoral workers and the security agents the maximum support to perform effectively at the polling units
He also asked the people not come to the polling units with handbags
Speaking on the level of preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC), newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu Pai said that they are fully prepared to provide a free and fair elections during the Governorship /House of Assembly elections today.
He disclosed that 22 candidates are contesting the seat of the governor of Kano State while 239 candidates are contesting for the 40 members of the House of Assembly.
He assured the electorate that the electoral body is an unbiased umpire determined to provide a level playing ground for all while charging the contestants to play by the rules of the Electoral Act.
He said that both sensitive and non- sensitive materials have been distributed to various local government areas adding that the sensitive materials are to be customized. He added that the smart card readers have been reconfigured and are fully charged for the assignment today.
The INEC boss said that the Commission would use the same Ad hoc staff that participated during the presidential elections adding however that where there is a shortage , the Commission has made adequate arrangements for their replacements.
Ekiti State
From Ado Ekiti, WOLE BALOGUN and OSO OLASUNKANMI report that businesses have gradually been picking up while government offices that were hitherto under lock and key have reopened for duties, though many workers reported late for work apparently for fear of the unknown.
All banks opened to customers, even as markets also operated while residents, including Okada riders and commercial vehicle drivers now move about unchallenged.
But the fragile peace was still not perfect as pockets of protesters were sighted keeping vigil at the entrance of the Government House.
Fully armed security agents are also still keeping watch over the State House of Assembly.
The security men, made up of both DSS as well as regular and mobile policemen barricaded all the entrances leading to the complex with armoured tanks conspicuously stationed, while not allowing anyone to move near the place.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Sam Olumekun who supervised the distribution of electoral materials amid tight security, said the action had become necessary so as to guide against issues of late arrival of election materials at polling centres on the election day.
He assured all political parties taking part in the election of equal treatment before, during and after the exercise.
The State police command has also assured of ensuring that every voter is protected during today’s election. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Alberto Adeyemi who told Saturday Sun that Mr. Taiwo Lakanu has been transferred from the state as Commissioner of Police (CP) added that a new CP was being expected in the state on Thursday.
Edo State
From Benin city, TONY OSAUZO reports that preparation for the conduct of today’s House of Assembly election in Edo State commenced Thursday morning with the deployment of sensitive electoral materials to the 18 local government areas of the state.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Mike Igini who spoke to our correspondent in Benin said the Commission was fully prepared to conduct credible election and stressed that card readers would be used for the conduct of the election.
Meanwhile, the State Police Command has deployed over 7,800 policemen to ensure security during the election. Spokesman of the Command, Joseph Edoigiawerie(DSP), told our correspondent that the police would be complemented by personnel from sister security agencies like the DSS, Immigration, Customs and FRSC.
“Allowances of our officers and men have already been paid. They are all in high spirit and we expect the outcome of the election to be better than that of March 28”, he said.
Edoigiawerie warned politicians to play by the rules, stressing that thuggery will not be tolerated during the election, just as he advised parents to warn their children and wards against being used as thugs.
Kaduna State
From Kaduna, NOAH EBIJE reports that ahead of today’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kaduna said it was ready for the exercise.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of INEC, Kaduna, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu Gujungu told Saturday Sun that all the necessary materials meant for the conduct of today’s elections were distributed to the 23 local governments headquarters in the State since Wednesday to ensure early distribution to all the wards on the day of the election.
“We collected both sensitive and non sensitive materials, ballot papers, result forms from the Central Bank, and we have distributed them to the 23 local government areas of the State under a very tight security. So we are ready for the conduct of the election”. Gujungu said.
Also, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has re-strategized to emerge victorious at the polls.
The state Chairman of the party, Chief Abubakar Gaiya Haruna flanked by the Director General of the Yero/Bajoga campaign organization, Hassan Hyet, while briefing newsmen shortly after a closed- door meeting with party stakeholders maintained that the party will not leave any stone unturned to win the elections.
According to Chief Haruna, the PDP has learnt from its shortcomings during the presidential polls and had already made necessary amends ahead of the governorship election to avoid a repeat of what happened on March 28.
“We are battle ready for the polls, and we are sure that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will play the role of an unbiased umpire, PDP will certainly emerge victorious” he stated.
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, Hajiya Hafsat Baba said the youths must work hard and defend their votes, because according to her, if Mallam Nasir El – Rufai wins the election, “it is for growth, development, education, peace and youth empowerment in the State.
“That is why we need to do our best during the polls. We should not be afraid of the PDP and their plans to rig the election, we should not be afraid to speak the truth, don’t be afraid because fear would only deny you of what you deserve”.
Osun State
CLEMENT ADEYI, reports from OSOGBO that
security has been beefed up in Osun State by various security agencies not only to forestall any breach of law and order by miscreants, political thugs and party supporters but also ensure security of lives and property as well as relative peace during and after the elections.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of elections in the state, Sam Okaula, who gave the assurance in a chat with Saturday Sun in his office, said that the state’s police command had put all the necessary machinery in place to replicate the feat that guaranteed peace and security in the just -concluded presidential and National Assembly elections.
“I have already orientated my men and officials and instructed them to conduct themselves professionally during the elections. The structures that we used in the last elections are still intact. We are very much alert and will not condone any act of lawlessness and criminality,” he said.
“We are ready to discharge our duties by protecting lives and property. Security-wise, we have made the environment very conducive for everybody to enable them exercise their franchise on Saturday. We have deployed our men and officers to all the flashpoints as well as all the nooks and crannies of the state and anybody caught taking law into his hand will be dealt with accordingly,” Okaula stressed.
“There is inter agency cooperation between us and other security agencies to ensure adequate security. So, there won’t be any problem on Saturday.”
INEC also confirmed its readiness to conduct a peaceful, free and fair election on today.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Ogunmola who spoke to Saturday Sun in Osogbo said: “We are fully prepared for the exercise. The structures that we used in the conduct of the last presidential and National Assembly elections which helped us to achieve success in the exercise are still in place. We shall use the same structures today.”
Dr Ogunmola also assured that the governorship and state House of Assembly elections today would not witness any hitch as witnessed during the last presidential and National Assembly elections held on March 28.
He allayed fears that the challenges recorded during the exercise due to card readers failure would not recur on Saturday as the machines had been updated for effective use.
The INEC, he further disclosed, had commenced distribution of all the necessary materials to be used for the election to all the 30 Local Governments Areas in the state. The materials distributed include ballot papers, form C8A and incidence form.
The REC said the number of ballot papers given to each local government area depended on the total number of permanent
voter cards distributed as well as five percent as directed by the chairman of the Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega to cater for eventualities.
Dr Ogunmola also insisted that manual accreditation would not be allowed during the elections.
While also assuring that the Commission had improved on all the logistics ahead of the elections, the REC disclosed that certificates of return would be presented to all the Senatorial and House of Representatives members-elect after the election.
Saturday Sun gathered that some representatives of the political parties who witnessed the distribution exercise commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for its efforts.
Checks by Saturday Sun indicated that expectations of the people of the state are high even though there is no governorship election in the state as the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola began his second term a couple of months ago after his re-election on August 9, 2014, and inauguration on November 27th.
There are indications that party supporters are in good mood to vote for their candidates of choice into the state House of Assembly.
Bauchi State
From Bauchi, PAUL ORUDE reports that today’s contest is mainly between the PDP and the APC for the control of the governorship and State Assembly seats. Already the Bauchi State Police command said it has uncovered plans by some disgruntled political party leaders and their supporters to cause violence in Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly elections in the State.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Mohammed K Mohammed disclosed during a stakeholders meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Bauchi for stakeholders ahead of the election.
The Police boss who was represented by Mr Tony Okpara, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Operations, warned politicians and party supporters to desist as the security agencies were fully prepared to bring them to book if they cause any problem during the election.
The CP said: “There are rumours in town about thuggery. I want to say that if anybody is preparing for thuggery, he is wasting his time.
“We are aware and we are prepared for it. I assure you that whatever anybody is planning, if it is violence, stop it. INEC is using card reader, so I don’t think anybody will manipulate as there is nothing to manipulate.
“If you vote and want to stay back and cause headache, that is your problem. There is no ballot box to be hijacked because the card reader has already recorded everything. The presidential election we thought will bring down this country did not. So, whosoever loses should congratulate the winner. As for the security, we are prepared.”
On the level of preparedness for the election, the state INEC Administrative Secretary Mr Emmannuel Omega, disclosed that the electoral body has received sensitive electoral materials from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“We have commenced the process of sorting them by local governments and ultimately to the polling units.
“We expect political parties to have their agents present in the spirit of transparency for inward distribution to local government areas.
“We will expect the security agencies to escort us as the materials are sensitive and we can’t afford to risk taking them without escort.
“Security is a collective thing, so we expect the political parties to be the vanguard of peace. They should talk to their supporters to eschew violence. They have the ears of their leaders and we want to believe they can talk to their supporters to ensure peace.”
Jigawa State
From Dutse, ABDULLAH TSOHO, reports that the political atmosphere is getting hot as political parties roll out to ensure that they defeat the other.
The election is seen to be hotter than the presidential election as the two major political parties in the state, APC and PDP have worked hard to win today’s election.
The police spokesman in the state, DSP Abdul Jinjiri assured that the police is fully ready for the election.
Jinjiri said: “As far as our duty is concerned, I can’t tell you the exact number of our men deployed for the election due to security reasons but we deployed massive number of policemen to monitor the election across 27 local government areas in the state.”
Also speaking to our reporter, the state Commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Muhammad Gidado Fari said his men were divided into two teams, one team will work independently to monitor the election and the other team will join the police to monitor the election.
He further explained that his command deployed over 3,250 officers to monitor the election.
On its part, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also confirmed its readiness for the conduct of free, fair and peaceful election in the state.
The state INEC spokesman, Alhaji Suraj Koriyel said the commission was prepared for the elections.
Ebonyi State
From Abakaliki, Jeff Amechi Agbodo reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received all the sensitive materials such as ballot papers and result sheets and had distributed them to the 13 local government areas in the state.
The Ebonyi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Lawrence Azubuike said that the commission was ready for the election, saying that card readers would be used and other non-sensitive materials which had since been distributed to the various INEC offices in the council areas.
He said that the police and other security agents were deployed to the state INEC headquarters to guard the sensitive materials and the staff while more security operatives would be provided across the state to ensure adequate security of lives, materials and staff.
He stated that at least two policemen would be posted to each polling unit for security of staff and materials, while calling on the political parties, candidates as well as all the stakeholders in the electoral process to play the game according to the rules and eschew violence.
He said that Ebonyi has 2,336 polling units where 9,344 regular and ad-hoc workers would be posted for elections duty, saying that there were 171 supervising polling officers, 171 ward collation officers, 13 local government area collation centres and 24 House of Assembly constituency returning officers.
Azubuike further noted that the commission deployed a total of 9,708 regular and ad-hoc staff, stressing that the commission had sensitized them on electoral matters across the state.
According to him: “Eschew politics of bitterness and engage in issue-based campaigns. Play your politics with the spirit of sportsmanship and learn to congratulate winners because we all cannot win at the same time. I urge winners in the contest to be magnanimous in victory while losers should accept defeat in good faith,” he advised politicians.
“We noted that there were instances during the presidential election where election did not commence on time because materials did not arrive on time. Such delay will not happen today. We have distributed even sensitive materials well ahead of time, with the aim of making them available in every ward at the right time today. We have also ensured that all materials are adequately provided so that the question of lack of some vital election materials does not arise at all.”
Bayelsa State
From Yenagoa, Femi Folaranmi, reports that the House of Assembly election means a lot to majority of the politicians in the state.
Indeed, a combination of factors ranging from alleged imposition of unpopular candidates by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson; internal wrangling within the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) and determination of some stalwarts of the PDP to prove their acceptability in their various constituencies by backing opposition candidates has heightened tension ahead of the election.
Though governorship election would not hold today, political observers see the House of Assembly election as a dress rehearsal of what to expect during the governorship election slated for later part of the year as the PDP faces stiff opposition from the All Progressive Grand Congress (APGA), Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress ( APC).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police and other security agencies aware of the high stakes involved in the House of Assembly election are taking no chances in the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials and provision of adequate security for INEC officials.
On Thursday, sensitive and non-sensitive materials were distributed from the premises the INEC office in Yenagoa amid tight security in the presence of all party agents. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Baritor Kpagih, who supervised the distribution, assured all parties of level playing ground as the commission would ensure that voting materials are distributed to coastal areas on time to avoid late arrival of materials witnessed during the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Checks indicated that Joint Task Force (JTF) gunboats were deployed to escort electoral materials to some coastal communities, while military helicopters were used to airlift sensitive materials to Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor local government areas.
The Bayelsa State Police command has beefed up security with increased vehicular and foot patrols as well as intensive surveillance in all nook and crannies of the state. Investigations indicated that Nembe, Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/ Opokuma, Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw have been identified as flash points and the JTF and the Police have deployed gunboats to the creeks to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.
The Police command in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Asinim Butswat has placed restrictions on the movement of boats along the waterways to thwart any attempt by troublemakers to foment trouble.
Akwa Ibom
From Uyo, JOE EFFIONG, reports that the governorship and the state constituencies’ elections have generated serious tension in the state.
Though the state police command through its spokesman, Cornelia Nweawe, told Saturday Sun that there was no problem “as everything is stable”, the political parties appear ready to stage a fight to forestall what they term the “ugly incident of the presidential election.”
It was learnt that as at Wednesday, INEC had distributed both sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the area offices in the 31 local government areas.
It was gathered that agents of political parties and politicians had since on Wednesday kept vigil at the State headquarters of INEC along Udo Udoma Avenue to monitor the movement of the materials to different locations or distribution points in the state.
The situation had on Thursday, warranted elders from the three senatorial districts to hold an emergency meeting with the state REC, Mr Austin Okojie, on how to conduct free and fair governorship and house of assembly elections in the state.
The former minister of petroleum resources and BoT member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Don Etiebet, while briefing the press on the need for the meeting said: “We came to tell the REC that the election of March 28 has come and gone and we have learned a lot of lesson on what happened during that election.
“We are not here to canvass for any political parties. We are elders who want peace in this state and who want the right thing to be done. There were instances of deliberate action of the commission staff right from his office to the unit working with one of the parties to rig the election.
“And we don’t want those actions to be repeated in the state election because the stakes in the state gubernatorial election are too high that nobody will tolerate any infraction of the guideline and regulation of INEC as issued.”
Etiebet said the elders urged the REC to “warn his officials not in any circumstances repeat the action of conniving with one party or the other to rig the governorship election.”
Despite the police assurance, there are fears that today’s poll may witness some pockets of violence between the supporters of the ruling PDP and the main opposition party, APC.
Ogun State
From Abeokuta, Segun Olatunji reports that the state Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the receipt of sensitive and non-sensitive materials. The commission also re-affirmed its preparations for the polls.
Similarly, the police and other security agencies in the state said they have placed their officers and men on alert for the election.
Abia State
From Aba, Okey Sampson reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was going to improve on the Presidential and National Assembly election in today’s governorship and House of Assembly election.
Disclosing this in Aba, an INEC official in Aba South, who wouldn’t want his name in print said some of the lapses noticed in the March 28 polls would be corrected. Some of these lapses included late arrival of materials, problems associated with the card reader and alleged manipulation of results.
Plateau State
From Jos, MARIAM ALESHINLOYE reports that electoral materials have been distributed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to all the 16 councils in the state.
The state INEC spokesman, Barrister Jacob Ayanda who spoke to the Saturday Sun on phone said the materials, including sensitive ones, have been distributed to forestall hiccups experienced in the presidential and national assembly elections held a fortnight ago.
Lagos State
From Lagos, CHIZOBA IKENWA reports that the state Police Command has announced restriction of movement between 0600hrs (6am) and 1800hrs (6pm).
According to the Lagos police command spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, the restriction is part of measures taken to ensure a hitch-free election.
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