History will be made in Kogi state today when residents of the state decide who takes charge of the state’s affairs for the next four years.
The election process, which has gathered so much momentum in the past few days, has clearly pitched two major candidates against each other; Governor Idris Wada of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor, Audu Abubakar, who is the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate.
While there have been reports of heavy security presence in the state, there have also been reports of the people running to the market and banks to stock pile their houses with food and money as there will be no movement in the state from 6.00am to 6.00 pm, when the election is expected to have been concluded.
While Wada may fancy his chances as the incumbent, the ouster of former president Goodluck Jonathan by a fresh candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, may yet prove to him (Wada) that incumbency may not be enough to secure victory for him at the polls.
As at the time of filing this report, feelers from the state have it that the accreditation was yet to commence, but the residents have trooped out in numbers already to perfect the accreditation process before the voting commences.
Despite the 6am to 6pm curfew, Lokoja residents were seen this morning as at 7.23 am driving round town with the military turning residents back to their house.
Naij.com correspondents are on ground in the state, and will bring you live updates from Kogi state, where the attention of the political juggernauts in the country will be focused today.
Election is scheduled to commence at exactly 11.30am, before which time every voter is expected to have been accredited.
9.17am: At the Ward A, polling 003 of the workers village and housing unit for civil servants in the state, accreditation has also started with the card reader working perfectly.
9.14am: PU 002, Akuba ward 01, Kogi east. Accreditation in progress but one card reader not configured.
9.05am: PU 003, 005 & 006, Ohueta Ward, Ihima/Okehi LGA. Accreditation is done manually due to card reader failure
9.05am: Accreditation is going on at Ward A, polling unit 022, Lokoja LGA. At this polling unit, the card reader has failed to accredit some voters. The INEC official has improvised by asking voters to wash their hands with water properly before going for accreditation with the card reader.
Commercial activities going on at old Mami market. Naij.com reporter who visited the area at about 8.53am saw traders selling to their customers.
8.57am: Accreditation is going on at Ward A, polling unit 022, Lokoja LGA. At this polling unit, the card reader has failed to accredit some voters. The INEC official has improvised by asking voters to wash their hands with water properly before going for accreditation with the card reader.
8.50am: In the RAC centre, Anyigba LGA, some thugs of one of the political parties fired gunshots, to snatch ballot boxes.
8.47am: Accreditation has begun at Ward A, polling unit 2, Lokoja LGA and it is going on orderly with security officers around. The card readers are working fine here as well.
8.46am: Three cases of failed fingerprint verification recorded so far at LGEA Primary school, PU 005/A. Incident form filled.
8.45am: Pu 003, Shaba Yagi Ward, Lokoja LGA, accreditation has commenced.
8.45am: Accreditation started by 8.30am at the ECSS Ogaminana, Nagazi, Lokoja PU 006.
8.40am: PU 003, Ward D, Lokoja LG. There is commotion as opposing parties object to the accreditation.
8.35am: PU 001, Kogi East, Bassa Abolok Ward. Accreditation started at 7:50am. Money is being shared to some people.
8:35am: PU 005, Kogi East, Dakina Health Centre Ward A. Accreditation started at 8:00am and it was very peaceful.
8.34am: Reports from LGEA primary school PU oo2/Ward A have it that the card reader was showing reading fail message.
8.32am: The streets of Lokoja are empty as only security personnel, election observers and INEC officials are on the road. Naij.com has observed that many of the residents are not coming out for the voters’ accreditation yet.
8.28am: Naij.com has sighted members of the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Army on the streets of Lokoja, mounting road blocks.
8.25am: INEC officials are already on ground at the Crowther primary school, Lokoja as voters are checking their names at the voters’ register list displayed in the school premises. Accreditation has commenced and Naij.com sighted members of the European Union observers at the polling unit.
8.25am: Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kogi state, Mr Halilu Pai is also already on ground to monitor proceedings here.
8.21am: In Adavi LGA, Kogi state, officials have arrived at Carlik School, PU no. 012 at 7:45 for set up.
8.21am: INEC officials arrived at 8:04am to Ebira Community Secondary School Ogaminana- PU 005.
8.13am: INEC officials just arrived at Ward A Lokogoma Phase 1, Polling unit 023. Accreditation is yet to commence at this centre as voters are just beginning to arrive.
8.12am: Distribution of materials to Polling Units is ongoing at LGA Primary School, Lokoja.
8.10am: PU 005 Lange, Lokoja, Ward D. Accreditation is yet to start.
8.07am: One of the prospective voters is unhappy about the INEC officials who came late as the people had arrived since about past seven. Even the security operatives got there since 6:30am and their presence has settled the residents.
8.05am: Ad-hoc officials just arriving, a lot of security operatives on ground before the arrival of the electorates.
8.04am: Lokoja, the state capital, is relatively calm as three national commissioners have been brought in for the election.
7.30am: INEC officials have arrived Polling unit 004, Ward A in Lokongoma, Lokoja Local government. Accreditation is yet to start (accreditation starts 8am).
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