As re-run and bye-elections begin across 80 local government areas in 26 states, 4.6 million accredited votes are expected to come out and elect the candidates of their choices today.
Bayelsa
Already, in Bayelsa State, accreditation and voting are ongoing in the run-off election for State Constituency 2 in the Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State.
Voters were seen in queues at Polling Unit 6, Ward 7, Gbarain, for the Run-off State Constituency election in Yenagoa LGA, to cast their votes for candidates of their choice.
Being a hotbed for political violence, soldiers, policemen and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are maintaining vigil to ensure a peaceful electoral process around the polling units in the areas where the elections are holding.
Ondo
Similarly,in Ondo State, heavy security had been deployed to Ikare-Akoko and around the town ahead where by-election to fill the vacant seat in the House of Representatives for the Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal Constituency is taking place.
By 7.00a.m. heavy security had already been mounted at the major road entering Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko-East Local Government.
Operatives of the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Nigeria Custodial Service hade taken strategic locations in the town and at polling centres.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived early at most of the polling centres visited in Ikare while many electorate were seen checking for their names on the voters register pasted on walls and boards.
Also, there was no commercial activities in the town as shops and markets were locked and only a few commercial motorcyclists were seen plying the road as at 7:30am.
The by-election is to fill the vacant seat in the House of Representatives for Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal Constituency in Ondo State, which was vacated by Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The seat became vacant following President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Tunji-Ojo as Minister for Interior in August 2023.
Kaduna
In Kaduna city, the chilly harmattan weather could not stop voters who turned out early to vote at Saturday’s re-run polls and by-election for the State and Federal Constituencies election in Kaduna State.
Like in Ondo, by 7 am, voters had already arrived at some of the polling units despite the harsh, cold harmattan.
Polling units at Narayi and Sabo areas in Chikun Local Government Area, witnessed voters who had begun accreditation at around 8.00am while some waited for the commencement of the exercise.
Two polling units situated at the premises of Government Day Secondary School, Narayi, witnessed the presence of security agents while INEC materials arrived around 8am and accreditation commenced at around 8am.
Some of the voters said they defied the unfriendly weather because of the importance they accorded the exercise.
The elections would take place in six constituencies covering seven local government areas including; Chikun, Igabi, Kaduna South, Kudan, Kachia, Kagarko and Kauru.
Total polling units in the six constituencies are 1,114, with the number of registered voters that have collected their PVCs standing a about 639,914.
Katsina
The Police in Katsina State is enforcing the restriction of movement in Kankara and Faskari Local Government Areas (LGAs), where re-run elections are holding.
The spokesperson of the command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, said this in a statement that the restriction would last from 8 a.m to 5 p.m.
“This measure has been put in place to maintain order and security, as well as to enable the electorate to cast their votes without interference,” he explained.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Head of Voter Education and Publicity in the state, Shehu Sa’idu said the election will be conducted in 20 polling units of the two LGAs and in four polling units in Dauduwa registration area of Faskari, while 16 are in Garagi ward of Kankara LGA.
Jigawa
Residents, voters and other stakeholders have been assured of adequate security during the Saturday’s Birninkudu/Buji Federal Constituency rerun election in Jigawa State.
The commands’ Public Relations Officers in the state, DSP Lawan Shiisu and ASC Badaruddeen Tijjani, said the police had adopted proactive measures to ensure peaceful and hitch-free rerun election in the state.
He said 30 policemen were expected to man each of the eight polling units, in collaboration with other security agents.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Muhammad Bashar, said in Dutse on Friday that the exercise would hold in Birninkudu/Buji Federal Constituency, in eight polling units, in five Registration Areas, with seven in Birninkudu Local Government Area (LGA) and one in Buji LGA as 5,642 eligible voters were expected to vote in the rerun election.
Benue
Benue State noted for violence in recent times, Governor Hyacinth Alia has assured of adequate security in the Guma 1 State Constituency by-election.
Alia promised to ensure that the election was credible, adding that the security council reviewed all situations surrounding the election and was quite prepared for the poll.
“In terms of security we are quite prepared. We want the public to know that a level playing ground is going to be giving to all political parties. And we pray for peace and peace alone to reign.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Adesina, said the police would deploy enough personnel for the smooth conduct of the election.
Adesina said “All hands are on deck. We have everything in place. We are going to deploy massively to give assurance to the electorates to come out and vote.
“Again to warm those who are having in mind to disrupt the exercise that they we not have their way tomorrow. We are going to be on ground to ensure that everywhere is secured,”he said.
