By Peter Okolie

Vigilant security operatives in Imo, on Saturday, foiled an attempt by alleged political thugs to abduct INEC officials and cart away election materials.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened at a Registration Area Center in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area.

It was learnt that the attempt by the thugs to whisk away the INEC officials into their waiting vehicle was quickly repelled by the security personnel deployed in the centre.

An eyewitness account said that the armed security operatives fired into the air from a distance, when voters in the area raised an alarm over the presence of the thugs.

“The thugs quickly retreated into their bus and sped off on hearing the sound of the gun,” the eyewitness told NAN on the condition of anonymity.

An unarmed Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) operative at the scene told NAN that “the thugs were coming to hijack the INEC officials and election materials.

“But luck ran out on them when some people started shouting during a stampede caused by fear.

“It was their shouting that alerted the armed security personnnel, who quickly shot into the air, forcing the thugs to take to their heels,” the NSCDC operative said on the condition of anonymity.

NAN also reports that there was heavy presence of security personnel on major roads in the state.

In Owerri, the state capital, and its environs, armed security personnel mounted checkpoints at strategic locations as early as 6:00a.m. to enforce restriction on movements.

Heavily armed soldiers were seen at different entry points into the city, stopping and searching vehicles, as well as interrogating the drivers and passengers before allowing them to go.

A NAN correspondent monitoring the poll also reports that all the polling units in Isu Njaba had materials and INEC officials on ground as early as 8.00am.

Consequently, the accreditation of voters commenced at about 8.30am in the area without any security presence at the time of filing the report. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sam Oditah

By Reporters

Gov. Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, on Saturday expressed diverse views on the conduct of the Saturday governorship election in Imo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both candidates spoke shortly after casting their votes at their various polling units on amidst low voter turnout.

Uzodimma, who voted at 11:35a.m. at Polling Unit 032, Ekwenja Ukwu-Ozu ward, Omuma Community, Oru East Local Government Area, said reports he received showed that the election was peaceful in most parts of the state.

“The election, contrary to what they said on the social media, is going on free, fair and very peaceful.

“You can see how freely I have gone out to cast my votes and also how INEC was able to process my accreditation under few minutes.

“It is evident for all of us in the country to know that the patriotic people of the state are desirous of having Imo state blossom,” he said.

However, the governor urged those in the opposition allegedly sponsoring mischief and other forms of criminality to repent.

”Some of us are in politics to serve the people and are in politics for the interest of the people.

“We say things as they are really on ground.

“Some are out to confuse the populace. They just go to the social media and fabricate stories and publish.

“But when you visit the polling units, you will now see that there is peace there,” he said.

Uzodimma commended INEC and security agencies for ensuring proper deployment of material and personnel for the election.

“The entire space is manned and occupied and people are responding positively.

“I have not heard any knockout, so I think Imo state is safe and it is good to go.

“I have just voted and some people are still voting.

“At the end of the day, whatever God approved will be announced by INEC,” he said.

On his part, the candidate of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, expressed worries over reports of alleged ballot box snatching in some areas of the state.

”Though they started very late which was the problem we had here where others started by 8:00am, I just cast my vote at about 10:25am.

”This is my home town and my people are excited to cast their votes because one of their own is coming out for election”, he said.

He alleged that materials and votes were catered away at about seven wards in Orlu.

He said similar incidents were reported at Orsu and parts of Oru West, wondering why opposition parties would not allow free and fair election in the state.

“We should not encourage hooliganism. When you bring people like that to help you win.

“That is not the type of society we want and a responsible government should not encourage such.

“Imo people are desirous of change but some people are trying to truncate it. It will never work,” he stated. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anune

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By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Some party agents, voters and observers have commended the peaceful voting process and seamless Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) deployed for Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa.

They gave the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

NAN reports that the respondents agreed that the election was largely smooth and peaceful across Yenagoa Local Government Area.

According to them, there has been no report of any  incident of malfunctioning BVAS.

At PU 28, Yenikien 3/Okaka Junction, Epie III Ward, Yenagoa, the Presiding Officer, Chidera Okoye said that the voting process commenced some minutes after 9a.m.

Okoye added that the BVAS deployed to the Polling Unit (PU) was working perfectly.

Also, the party agents for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jollyman Etizeta and that of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Cleanse Kinika, described the election as peaceful.

Mr Ambrose Kwokor, a Civil Servant, who voted at the PU also said that the election was going on peacefully.

“The election has been going on smoothly. There was no cause for alarm as the election so far. The BVAS is also working well,” Kwokor said.

He called on the people to remain peaceful during and after the election.

At PU 011, Yenada Market Square, Epie III Ward, Yenagoa with 822 registered voters, the polling process was observed to be peaceful and orderly.

Mrs Sarah Godfrey, a 60-year-old civil servant, after casting her vote, commended INEC for making special arrangements for elderly persons to vote without hassle.

Godfrey, who recently had a surgery, said that she came out to vote for the future of her children.

“I had surgical operation, but I could not sit down at home without voting. I am doing this because I believe it will be the turn of my children tomorrow,” Godfrey said.

However, an 86-year-old woman, Mrs Mercy Okodo, who came to the polling unit could not find her name.

Okodo expressed disappointment that her name was missing in spite of voting at the same polling unit in the past.

“I’m surprised to be told that my name is not on the voters list, it’s very disappointing,” the octogenarian said.

At PU 10 at Fanghe Primary School, Epie III Ward, Yenagoa LGA, which has 750 registered voters, Mr Andrew Asaba, a businessman, expressed pleasure with the orderly conduct of voters.

Asaba commended INEC for the good arrangements, saying “I arrived at 10.25a.m and was able to vote at 11.30a.m”.

He urged all stakeholders to remain peaceful for the good and development of the state.

At PU 017, Isiogu Town Square, PU 015, Fakulu Primary school (East) and PU 014, Fankulubo Hall, all in Epie lll Ward, the election was also going on peaceful and orderly.

The presiding officer at PU 015, Mrs Daniel Gold, said the voting process was peaceful and the crowd management was orderly.

“We do not have any issue with voters’ accreditation. Our BVAS is working perfectly,” she added.

Also, at PU 016 Fakulu Primary School (West), Epie lll Ward, with 750 registered voters; PU 019, Fankuku Health Centre, Epie III Ward; and PU 018, Ogriga Town Hall, Epie III Ward, there were no complaints about the election process.

The Presiding Officer for Ogriga Town Hall, Epie III Ward, Miss Benedicta Uche said no incident regarding BVAS was recorded.

At PU 17, Domingo Ogriga, an Assistant PDP agent, and Mr James Monday of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), said that the process had been peaceful and no issue with BVAS.

Also at PU 10, Agric Meeting Hall, Attissa 1, Yenagoa, the Presiding Officer, Ezeoke Chinozo said that the BVAS was working properly.

An observer with the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Dankogi Mohammed, said so far, the election has been relatively peaceful in places he monitored.

Dankogi also said that the BVAS had been effective in all the polling units he visited.(NAN)www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Maharazu Ahmed

By Thompson Yamput

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Kogi Governorship Election, Mr Habu Sani, says no security personnel is allowed to accompany VIPs to polling unit during Saturday’s election.

The DIG said this in a statement by the state police public relations officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya in Lokoja.

“On no account should any security personnel attached to VIPs, Political and Public Officers or any personality across the state will be allowed to move or escort their Principals during the period of restrictions of vehicular movement.

“Any officer, who is caught violating this order by accompanying any VIPs, Political and Public Officers or any other personality to the polling unit will be arrested and dealt with accordingly.

“Therefore, VIPs, political and public officers that will vote should take note of this order so as to avoid any embarrassment that might befall them.

“This is because the police and other security agencies will not allow any security breach during the period of the election,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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