The Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections hold across the country today, Saturday, March 18, 2023.
The Governorship election will take place in 28 States across the nation with just a few incumbent Governors seeking re-election while most of the States will be electing new chief Executive Officers.
In Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, nominated Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran as their candidate and they will battle Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party.
Two major political parties, the PDP and APC, have the most candidates for Saturday’s election but will have to do more work to win in some states where the Labour Party have candidates.
In Akwa Ibom, Akan Udofia is the APC candidate and other states are: Abia – Ikechi Emenike, Adamawa – Aishatu Dairu Binani , Bauchi – Sadique Abubakar, Kaduna – Uba Sani, Gombe – Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Delta – Ovie Omo-Agege, Borno – Babagana Zulum, Cross River – Bassey Otu, Jigawa – Umar Namadi, Kano – Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Ebonyi – Ogbonna Nwifuru, Enugu – Uche Nnaji, Katsina – Dikko Umaru Radda, Kebbi – Nasiru Idris, Kwara -AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ogun – Dapo Abiodun, Nasarawa – Abdullahi Sule, Plateau -Netanwe Yilwatda, Rivers – Tonye Cole, Yobe -Mala Buni, Zamfara – Muhammad Bello, and Oyo – Teslim Folarin
The PDP candidates across the country are Eleazar Ikonne – Abia., Umaru Fintiri – Adamawa., Umo Bassey – Akwa Ibom., Ibrahim Mohammed – Bauchi., Titus Uba – Benue, Mohammed Ali Jafari – Borno, Sheriff Oborevwori – Delta, Peter Mbah – Enugu, Muhammad Barde – Gombe, Mustapha Sule-Lamido – Jigawa, Isa Ashiru Kudan – Kaduna, Muhammed Abacha – Kano., Aminu Bande – Kebbi.,Abdullah Yahman – Kwara, Abdul-Azeez Adediran – Lagos. David Ombugadu – Nassarawa, Segun Sowunmi – Ogun, Seyi Makinde – Oyo, Caleb Mutfwang – Plateau, Siminialayi Fubara – Rivers, Sa’adu Umar – Sokoto
Kefas Agbu – Taraba, Sheriff Abdullahi Yobe, Dauda Lawal – Zamfara.
The Labour Party gave the more established political parties a run for their money in the February 25 presidential election and there is the general feeling that the Peter Obi factor may sweep across the country once more today.
Follow this thread for updates, results from the governorship election in the 28 states.
Guber election: Jigawa residents obey restriction of movement order as accreditation begins
Jigawa State residents have abided by the movement restriction order imposed by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, for the gubernatorial and state Assembly elections.
Applesbite observed that as early as 7:30 am, no vehicles were moving and shops were closed in Dutse, the state capital.
Voters were seen moving to their various polling units to exercise their civil rights.
The Jigawa State Police Command yesterday ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement except those on essential services, such as INEC officials, election observers, ambulances to medical emergencies, and firefighters from Friday, 17th March 2023 by midnight to 6 pm on Saturday 18th March 2023 and anybody found wanting will be dealt with decisively.
State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Effiom Ekot, called on the law-abiding citizens of the state to turn out en masse and peacefully exercise their franchise without fear of threat or intimidation.
He however warned political parties and their followers to shun political thuggery, the use of weapons, and taking signs of any party to the polling units.
The CP also warned all security aids and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling units and collation centers during the election, as anyone found flouting these directives will be severely sanctioned.
He noted that sister security agencies across the state will work assiduously to fish out those troublemakers and their sponsors as well, conduct thorough investigations and charge the culprits to court, to face the full weight of the law.
Applesbite visited some of the polling units and observed that election materials arrived as early as 7:30 am.
Voting ongoing peacefully in Wukari council of Taraba
Voting commences in Anambra
Voting has started in Anambra State for the House of Assembly elections.
Applesbite reports that within Awka, the state capita, voting has commenced as early as 8:30am.
READ ALSO: Obi’s Lawyers Warn APC Thugs, Against Attacks On LP Supporters In Lagos
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Elizabeth Agwu had in a press conference on Friday, said that the commission was ready, and that voting would start early.
Observation also showed that the BVAS has been very swift in capturing voters.
Guber election:INEC commences accreditation, voting in PU 007 Ward 1 Ijebu North LGA Ogun
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said its staff at Polling Unit 007, Ward 1 in Ijebu North Local Government Area, Ogun State, are ready for accreditation and voting.
INEC disclosed this on Saturday through its official Twitter handle.
The commission stated that its staff were ready for accreditation and voting at 7:30 am at the polling unit.
“Polling Unit 007, Ward 1 in Ijebu North Local Government Area, Ogun State, fully activated and ready for accreditation and voting at 7.30 am today”, INEC posted.
Twenty eight governorship and state house of assembly elections are ongoing nationwide.
Guber poll: Voting commences in Ogun
Voting has commenced in Ogun State for today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Across different polling units visited by our correspondent in Ipokia Local Government Area of the State, it was observed that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived as early as possible.
Few minutes after 8am, voters lined up for accreditation, which happened simultaneously with voting.
The exercise is going on seamlessly at the moment.
