VIDEO: Wife of President-Elect Senator Tinubu votes pic.twitter.com/KdgmP6i1Ef
— The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) March 18, 2023
Category: Nigeria Decides 2023
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I’m still in Gov race – Nweke
Enugu All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Governorship candidate Frank Nweke Jr has debunked rumours of his withdrawal from the Enugu gubernatorial race.
Nweke made the denial in a statement by his Media Manager, Mr Uchenna Igboeme, on Saturday in Enugu.
Read Also: Tinubu is our leader, says Kogi Gov Bello
He described the report as fake, saying that he had never considered stepping down.
Nweke urged the state residents to ignore the report and vote for candidates of their choice.
He advised them to also protect their votes.
(NAN)
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Kogi Gov Bello hails INEC
Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello has hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for coming out in record time in his polling unit in Okene, Kogi State.
He also noted the election was going on smoothly across the state.
Read Also: How governorship election results will be transmitted – INEC
“Turnout is impressive. We are expecting more. So far, it is peaceful. INEC officials came out in record time. Across the state the election is going on peacefully, I have not received any adverse report,” he said in an interview on NTA.
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Low turnout of voters at Suleja
Some polling units in the Suleja area of Niger State witnessed a low turnout of voters.
Despite the restriction of movement, motorcycle riders were seen at different junctions waiting for passengers.
Shops and businesses also opened for their daily activity.
Unlike the presidential election which witnessed a huge turnout and late arrival of materials, the Governorship and Assembly election in areas visited in Niger state witnessed low turnout despite the early arrival of materials.
The Polling units visited are; Suleja Emir’s Palace Polling Unit 003, Ward 06, Iku South II, Polling Unit 007 Kwankwashe, UBE Primary School, Kwankwashe Iku 2, State Library beside the correctional centre in Suleja and Suleja Emir’s palace.
At the State Library polling unit, the Presiding Officer said: “We arrived around 8am with materials and voting started at 8:30 am. As of 9:06, only three voters have come to vote despite the voting population is 615.
At Suleja Emir’s Palace Polling Unit 003, and other polling units around it, accreditation and voting commenced before 8:30 am.
The Presiding Officer, Suleiman Usman said: “We came in early but people are not coming as expected. We hope they will come out before the end of the voting process.”
At Ward 06, Iku South II, Polling Unit 007 Kwankwashe, the Presiding Officer, Adamu Idris said: “The process has been peaceful and orderly compared to the presidential where we were overwhelmed.
“We arrived at 7:53 and voting commenced at 8:01. This place was choked the last time but you can see that we are waiting for people to come.
INEC officials at UBE Primary School 025 in Kwankwashe arrived around 8:15 and voting commenced by 8:30 am
A team of Observers from the European Union Election Observation Mission and YIAGA Africa was present at the polling units to observe the process.
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Low turnout in Akure for Assembly poll
There is a low turnout of voters in Akure, the Ondo capital in many polling units visited at about 8:50 am.
Accreditation and voting had begun but not many voters were seen in the queue.
At Polling unit One Ward four along Oba Adesida Road, INEC ad-hoc staff were seen sitting and waiting for voters.
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I’ll abide by outcome of Gov poll, says Sule
Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule has voted at his polling unit of Motor Park Polling unit in Gudi district of the Akwanga local government area.
Sule, who is seeking a second term, arrived at the polling unit around 9:57 am with his wife Farida. They both voted at exactly 9:59 am.
Speaking to journalists after voting, Governor Sule commended the peaceful nature of the process and promise to abide by the outcome of the election.
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Voter’s apathy in Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor
The two major local government areas of Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt city witnessed voter apathy on Saturday morning.
Unlike the February 25th Presidential election when people trooped out en masse to trek to their polling units, most people seem not interested in the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Most residents in the councils dominated by non-indigenes remained indoors and within their compounds not bothered about the elections.
The roads were deserted and adults were seen playing soccer.
Read Also: Army arrests 140 suspected thugs in Enugu
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived their polling units with electoral materials in time.
In most cases, the INEC officials waited for voters, who came in trickles to cast their ballots.
Some shops were seen doing business along many streets in the capital city while some community markets along the Chinda area of Obio-Akpor opened for skeletal business.
At Ward 9 Unit 7A, where the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, was expected to vote, INEC officials arrived early and community folks came out to cast their ballots.
The polling unit was not also as busy as it was during the presidential election as some plastic chairs kept for voters under four canopies were still empty.
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Voting peaceful, smooth in Lagos Island
Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State chapter, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, has commended the voting process in Lagos Island, saying it was going on smoothly.
He also described the turnout as impressive.
He spoke in an interview on NTA.
“The turnout is impressive. We have a mammoth crowd here. It is going on peacefully,’ he stated.
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Ebonyi APC Gov candidate votes, commends process
The governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), Francis Nwifuru has commended the process of the election so far
Nnwifuru, who voted at his Edukwu Okemini polling unit around 9:20 am, lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring a smooth and hitch-free exercise.
The Speaker also expressed satisfaction at the turnout of voters at the polling unit and by implication the entire state.
He expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious at the polls.
He said: “I am grateful to INEC because you can see that it didn’t take me more than two minutes to be accredited and vote. That shows that INEC prepared very well for the election”.
“And so far, security is very normal, everybody is going about their business and people are voting without any quarrel or rancour. That shows security agencies are on top of the situation”
“The turnout is impressive. This is after 9 am and you can see that many people are already here to cast their votes,” he said.
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Three die in Masari’s convoy
At least three persons have died in a road accident involving the convoy of Katsina Governor Aminu Bello Masari.
They were on their way to Karfur for Saturday’s Governorship/ Assembly elections.
The Nation gathered the accident occurred on Friday night near a village called Jimkamshi while the Governor and his entourage were heading to Kafur.
Among those dead killed were police officers in the convoy identified as Kabir Adamu and Nura Safiyanu and Ahmady Ali.
A few others sustained various injuries and are receiving treatment in a hospital.