This is the live updates as the people of Bayelsa, South-south Nigeria, go to the polls today to elect a new governor.
7.45am Ajaokuta LGA, steel township.
Geregu Ward. Polling unit 016
INEC adhoc staff yet to be on ground. Materials are not here. The place is still empty
7:50 am, Ajaokuta LGA, GEREGU WARD. PU O15 and 016
The two APOs in this PUs are well known party agents in town.
INEC adhoc staff are yet to be on ground. Materials are not here. The place is empty
07:54am
At Okene LG
Ward 10
Unit 010
Officials have arrived, voters are checking the newly pasted Accreditation List as Police Officers watch.
7:55 am
Materials and personnel for Ward 13 (Otuabula) of Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State are still at the RAC, situated at the CSS, Otueke, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s hometown
At 7:48am
PU24, Ward 1, Onopa, Yenegoa, Bayelsa
No INEC staff, no election materials and no security officers as electorates at the polling unit lament the late arrival of INEC staff.
7.52am
PU007, Ward 07, Erewari open space, Kaiama/Olobiri
According to the PO, materials arrived at 7.16am.
Two security officials of the NPF are seen unarmed.
The INEC officials are not set for the election.
8.02am
PU005, Ward 5, Wari town hall, Kaiama/Olobiri
According to the PO, materials arrived at 7.30am.
No challenges of any sort as they are all set for elections.
There are five security men in the PU.
At 8.13am
PU002, Ward 5, Kigbeghawari Townhall Kaiama/Olobiri, Bayelsa
According to the PO, materials arrived at 7.30am.
There are no challenges of any sort as they are all set for elections.
Voting commenced at 8.10am with the accreditation of voters but only a few people were seen at the polling unit.
8.13am
PU009, Ward 5, Talawari Town hall, Kaiama/Olobiri
According to the PO, materials arrived at 7.30am.
Voting commence at 8.00am with accreditation of voters but only few people are seen at polling unit
The officials are currently making plans to use the dry land in the area for the conduct of the election.
Many voters are already sitted waiting for the process to commence.
A voter said the flood has taken over many parts of the community because the rain stopped late in the year.
However, in some other parts of Kolokuma LGA such as Kaiama town, materials have arrived.
At 8:30a.m., INEC officials at Elgbaha town hall ward 5 unit 001 in Kaiama town have started pasting voters register in preparation for voters accreditation.
Materials have also arrived most of the centres within the area.
All sensitive materials have left Kolokuma local government headquarters located in Kaiama. The head office is serving as the situation room for the LGA.
Kolokuma Opokuma LGA
As at 8:00 a.m., materials have not arrived in most of the polling units in Sampou village in Kolokuma Opokuma Local Government Area.
The Peoples Democratic party’s Candidate, Duoye Diri, is from the community and he is expected to vote here later in the day.
Security operatives and INEC officials could not access some of the polling centres in the community because flood has taken over many houses, schools and public places housing the units.
The officials are currently making plans to use the dry land in the area for the conduct of the election.
Many voters are already sitted waiting for the process to commence.
A voter said the flood has taken over many parts of the community because the rain stopped late in the year.
However, in some other parts of Kolokuma LGA such as Kaiama town, materials have arrived.
At 8:30a.m., INEC officials at Elgbaha town hall ward 5 unit 001 in Kaiama town have started pasting voters register in preparation for voters accreditation.
Materials have also arrived most of the centres within the area.
All sensitive materials have left Kolokuma local government headquarters located in Kaiama. The head office is serving as the situation room for the LGA.
8:45am
PU20, WARD1, Atisawa, Yenegoa LG, Bayelsa.
The PO, Lucky, said all is set but they are waiting for the security agents arrival to start election proper.
8.13 am
PU004, Ward 4, Oluwari, Kaiama/Olobiri
According to the PO, materials arrived at 8.40 am.
Nothing is happening as the official are setting up the place, but according to the Presiding Officer, voting will soon commence by 9.30 am.
Time: 9:28AM
State: Bayelsa
LGA: Southern Ijaw
Ward: 1
PU: 001
-Movement of materials to PU’s has just started.
-PU’s 001 also serves as the RAC since the INEC Secretariat is flooded.
Time: 9:30AM
State: Bayelsa
LG: Yenagoa
PU: 3,4, and 5
Ward: 6
Voters, media, security personnel and observers all around but @inecnigeria materials and officials are yet to arrive.
Time: 9:33AM
State: Bayelsa State
LG: Ogbia LGA
Ward: 02
PU: 6
-Card Reader Malfunction.
Time: 9:49AM
State: Bayelsa
LG: Ogbia
PU: 1 to 8
Voting commenced peacefully. Some PU’s belonging to Idema town appears to have been transferred to Ogbia Town due to security issues.
Time: 9:35am
LG: Kolga
Ward: 4
PU: 011
Discrete vote buying and selling currently ongoing.
Time: 9.48AM
LGA: KOLGA
PU: 3
Ward: 7
State: Bayelsa
Low turnout of voters attributed to flooding in the area.
Time: 11:04 AM
Otuoke Comm. Sec. School, Bayelsa
LG: Ogbia LGA
Ward: 13
RAC Centre
Election materials are just leaving to PUs.
Time: 2:20pm
State: Bayelsa
LGA:Brass
PU:007
Ward:4
Voting has stopped and collation is on going. No party agent was present.
Time: 15:24pm
State: Bayelsa
LG: Yenagoa
Ward: 6
PU: 005
Counting of votes have began.
Time: 12
State: Bayelsa
LG: Sagbama
Ward: 5
PU: 1,6,7, 5
There were reports of fighting in these PU’s. Ballot boxes were broken, some snatched and others thrown into the river. Police and INEC officials deserted the scene.
Time: 15:46pm
State: Bayelsa
LG: Yenagoa
Ward: 6
PU: 005
Gunshots where fired. Vote counting was disrupted by some thugs who were repelled by youth on ground. Counting of vote has been temporarily suspended.
Time: 3:46
State: Bayelsa
LG: Yenagoa
Ward: 6
PU: 005
PU: Fanaye Square
Voting ended at 3:11PM. Sorting and counting commenced immediately but was disrupted by thugs.
Time: 16:06PM
State: Bayelsa
LG: Yenagoa
Ward: 6
PU: 005
Normalcy has returned to the PU. Vote counting has resumed.
Time: 3:30PM
State: Bayelsa
LGA: Brass
PU: 007
Ward: 4
Sorting and collation still ongoing as a result of heavy rainfall. Voter’s, Security Agents, Party agents and other domestic observers are on ground to monitor the exercise.
