Category: Nigeria Decides 2023

Across the Epe metropolis, there are no signs that INEC is ready for today’s election. As of 8:49 am, there was no presence of INEC officials in any single polling unit in Epe metropolis.

In Ward A5 on Ekundayo Street, as of 8:30 am, there were no INEC officials. It was the same in Ward A5 Booth 25 and Ward A5 Booth 56 in Kasali Olumo Street.

“We have not seen INEC officials; we have been waiting here since 7 am,” agents across parties told The Nation.

Read Also : Plateau INEC confirms availability of sensitive materials, commences distribution

The situation was different from what the INEC Electoral Officer (EO) in EPE, Kareem Akinloye, told The Nation around 7:30 am when he reported all election materials had been dispatched as early as 4 am.

While the electorates await the arrival of INEC officials, worries are building up among the voting public. In small groups across the various streets, people are expressing concerns over the delay.

Some voters in Sokoto were upset that they could not find their names at the polling units they were designated to vote.

The voters lamented they were at a loss as to the location they were to exercise their franchise.

One of them Juliet Nwaize said, “This venue (Yaya Gusau Primary School) was to be my polling unit. I received a message from INEC that this is where I should vote.

Read Also : NLC urges INEC to ensure elections reflect voters’ wishes

“But I am here now and they are telling me my location is not here. I received a message telling me to check the website www.voters.inecnigeria.org. I have been trying to open it but to no avail, as the site is not opening. Right now I don’t know what to do.”

Voters and security officials are awaiting officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the polling unit on No 1, Naiyeju Street behind General Hospital, Igando in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA).

Read Also ; Plateau INEC confirms availability of sensitive materials, commences distribution

A policeman and woman are securing the area.

“My wife and I have been here since past 6am,” a retiree, Omofuma Simeon, told The Nation at 8:30 am.

Voters trooped trekked to their polling unit in the early hours of Saturday in Port-Harcourt.

Some said they woke up as early as 6 am to trek distances to their polling units, insisting that they must cast their ballots.

But some of the polling units were not open as of 9 am as the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were not on the ground.

At Unit 7b Ward 10, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area close to the residence of Governor, Nyesom Wike, INEC officials were not on the ground.

Voters, who came before 7am, wondered why electoral materials were yet to arrive as of 9am.

But policemen sent to the polling units were waiting for the officials.

Read Also : Top 10 states with highest registered voters

Rivers generally was peaceful as no incident of disturbance was reported in the morning.

Most of them mostly youths said they relocated to their units and slept in hotels to cast their votes.

“I am 42 years old. I have never voted before but this time around I came prepared to vote. I left my place and paid N20,000 to lodge in a hotel close to my polling unit,” a voter said 

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Nigerians head to the polls to elect a new leader to replace President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday.

However, violence is one of the recurrent features of the nation’s electoral history and democratic journey .The country invariably witnesses an escalation of violence in the period before, during and after elections.

Security agencies are on the watch out for notable hot spots and have also devised strategies to prevent or deter any threats that may mar the Saturday’s election.

Here are few tips on how to stay safe on election day:

1. Don’t argue unnecessarily about political parties or candidates at the polling unit. Avoid any heated arguments. Cast your vote, and observe quietly at the polling unit.
2. Be cautious in wearing political parties insignia, logo or emblem to the polling unit: When going out to vote, wear a normal shirt or t-shirt that is not branded with any parties logo or campaign text to avoid attacks from opposition parties, prevent mistaken identity and possible victimization.
3. Be security conscious – Be aware of your surroundings, don’t be aloof.
4. Avoid abusive, intemperate, slanderous language or insinuations or innuendos designed or likely to provoke violent reactions or emotions at the polling unit.
5. Do not engage in any electoral malpractices or allow yourselves to be used as political thugs.

The Nigerian Airforce has deployed Military aircraft for surveillance ahead of tomorrow’s elections to aid security agencies in Ebonyi State.

Governor David Umahi stated this in Abakaliki, capital of the State on Friday after a security council meeting.

He said the security agencies are on the ground to secure voters, electoral officers and materials.

The Governor called on Ebonyi residents not to entertain fears about the low flight patrol of Officers of the Air force across the State.

Read Also : Airforce jets pound Shekau’s successor’s hideout

He clarified that the operation was to ensure miscreants do not exploit opportunities to cause the breakdown of law and order during the general elections.

Eight political parties in Niger State have declared support for the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Niger East senatorial candidate Mohammed Sani Musa.

The parties include: the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Social Democratic Party of Nigeria (SDP); National Rescue Movement (NRM); Labour Party (LP); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All People’s Party (APP) ACCORD and Action Democratic Party (ADP)

Announcing the endorsement for the APC candidates in Minna on Friday, the spokesman for the G8, Yakubu Aliyu Ibrahim, said they are collapsing their structure for Sani Musa because he delivered during his first term and has become a formidable voice as well as attracted several projects for the state.

Read Also : Tinubu will win with landslide – NRM

They said that they are adopting Tinubu as their preferred presidential candidate because they are assured that he would deliver on his promises.

“It is not only us who are here, the decision has been accepted and approved by our state Chairmen, the local government Chairmen, local government executives, Polling Units Executives and Chairmen of all other executives. We are not the only ones who made this arrangement by ourselves.”

” We have agreed and resolved to adopt distinguished Senator Mohammed Sani Musa as our chosen Senatorial Candidate and we have collapsed our structures into a formidable structure that will work as the reflection of Sani Musa. We have also adopted Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our preferred Presidential candidate for the 2023 elections,” he said.