Abba Moro confident of Ortom’s victory
The Senator-elect in Benue South, Comrade Abba Moro, said he’s confident that the state Governor, Samuel Ortom would be returned elected in today’s supplementary election.
Moro stated this at his Okwungaga polling unit where he’s serving as supervising agent.
Moro thanked the electorate for a peaceful conduct of the rerun election.
Rerun election: INEC puts supplementary election in Bayelsa on hold, gives reasons
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has put on hold, the supplementary elections in Brass Constituency 1 of Bayelsa State following a court order to include omitted units in the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal High Court in Yenagoa had on Friday, ordered the Electoral Commission to include omitted polling units in the supplementary elections in the constituency.
In a statement on Saturday, Mr Monday Udoh, the Bayelsa REC, announced that out of the three constituencies earlier scheduled for the polls, election was now holding in two, including Southern-Ijaw IV and Ogbia 11.
“INEC wishes to inform the good people of Bayelsa that the supplementary polls to conclude results in three constituencies namely: Brass 1, Ogbia 11, and Souther-Ijaw IV, is holding on March 23 with the exception of Brass 1.
“The conduct of supplementary in Brass 1, ward 6 polling units 11-16 has been put on hold by an interlocutory order of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa in suit No: FHC/YNG/CS/41/2019 and dated march 22.
“The supplementary elections in the other two constituencies are holding as scheduled. We wish to inform that necessary arrangements are already in place for a hitch free exercise in those two constituencies.
“As law abiding agency, the commission will inform the stakeholders as soon as the court order is dispensed with on Brass constituency 1,” the REC said.
Thugs burn election materials, chase away INEC staff, observers in Benue
Political thugs believed to be loyal to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the early hours of today overpowered security officials and disrupted election in Chito the headquarters of Azendeshi ward in Ukum LGA of Benue State.
The rampaging thugs attacked INEC officials, PDP agents and observers and burnt electoral materials, thus, disrupting the entire process.
Member representing Ukum state constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Paul Biam alongside, Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Kachina Merga, Adviser to the Governor on Revenue and Taxation, Zaye Jerome, Local government Chairman, Ibellogo Tor Tyokaa, Hon. Donald Gbugho and Deacon Dan Abbagu who were all agents of the party were attacked by the thugs.
Having successfully pushed agents out of the collation centre, the thugs burnt all electoral materials.
Kano Guber: Thugs attack journalists, voters
Some journalists covering the Supplementary Governorship election in Kano State on Saturday escaped lynching by some suspected thugs at Suntulma Primary School in Gama ward of Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
NAN reports that the journalists who were in the area to monitor the poll, were chased out of the place by the hoodlums.
Trouble began when some of the newsmen tried to interview some voters who were denied access into the classrooms where some of the polling units were stationed.
While trying to flee the troubled area, some of the journalists fell on ground and one of them (Name withheld), had to take refuge in a nearby Mosque in order to save his life.
NAN also reports that some of the reporters had their clothes torn by the thugs.
Speaking to newsmen, some voters alleged that they were not allowed to exercise their franchise as they were chased out of the area.
One of them, Comrade Aminu Tijjani, said he went to the primary school to cast his vote at his polling unit but had to return to escape the hoodlums’ attack.
“The situation is very bad and this is not how to conduct an election where people or voters are denied the opportunity to vote,” Tijjani said.
Another voter, Sani Abdullahi, said he came to vote as early as 8 a.m. but was scared away by the suspected thugs numbering about 10.
Meanwhile, voting has commenced in other affected polling units across the 28 local government areas of the state.
10:50 am Accreditation and voting have commenced smoothly in Ijigban Ward, Ado LGA of Benue State. Speaking shortly after casting his ballot, the Rep-elect in Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo federal constituency, Francis Ottah Agbo, expressed optimism that the state Governor, Samuel Ortom would be returned.
BREAKING: Voters flee as thugs disrupt election in Benue, smash ballot box
Suspected political thugs have disrupted the rerun election at Jato-Aka ,Tse Akough PU 012, Yaav ward, Kwande Local Government of Benue State.
A young man identified as Mr. Iorver Yough, believed to be working for the All Progressives Congress, APC, reportedly led APC thugs with Sekav Aule (Tor Geri Jato-aka) to destroy election materials.
Yough allegedly slapped the PDP agent, Micheal Iornongo, used club and machetes on him while Aule and his boys broke the ballot box and snatched the register.
Voters have fled the polling unit following the incident.
DAILY POST gathered that, although some materials were recovered, the register is missing.
Benue rerun: Tension as security agents take over Makurdi town
Security operatives have blocked all major streets within Makurdi township as part of measures to enforce the restriction of movement order within the period of the supplementary elections in the state.
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that in Makurdi township, all entry and exit points in the town were blocked to prevent unauthorised movement of people and vehicles.
Armed security personnel were seen at Wurukum, High level, North Bank, Wadata market and other major streets in Makurdi to ensure compliance with the directive.
NAN also reports that there was heavy presence of armed security personnel on Makurdi-Gboko road.
Meanwhile, voting has commenced in most polling units in Makurdi.
NAN reports that the Governorship supplementary election is holding in 22 of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, while that of the State House of Assembly is ongoing in 9 local government areas.
At the Modern Market polling unit, Ternamdoo Primary school, voters were seen on queue waiting to vote.
The Presiding Officer of the unit, Mr Akinlabi Adebanjo, said all electoral materials arrived on time and accreditation and voting commenced at 8:02 a.m.
”Everything is in order, all materials are complete. This election is for the Governorship and agents of the most popular parties are all here,” Adebanjo said.
Mr Terver Kighir, the All Progressives Congress (APC) agent, corroborated the views of the presiding officer, saying, ” everything is calm, if the elections continue like this, then, there will be no problem.”
On his part, Mr Bernard Unenge, the agent of the People’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), commended INEC for the smooth exercise.
Unenge, who is the commissioner for Lands, Survey and Minerals, also commended the electoral umpire for the smooth commencement of the polls.
At the All Saints Primary school polling unit, the presiding officer, Mr Japheth Zibo, also said the process was going on smoothly.
After the Governorship and State Assembly elections on March 9, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the exercise in five states inconclusive.
The commission had declared winners in the governorship elections in only 22 states.
However, the Returning Officers (ROs) in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto states, declared the elections inconclusive.
Supplementary elections will be held in the affected states except Adamawa, Bauchi and Rivers today, March 23.
DAILY POST brings you live update of events as they unfold all around the country.
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