Millions of Nigerians are out today to elect a new President and members of the National Legislature in what is considered a very tight race especially among three of the 18 candidates jostling to replace President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reports By Kamil Opeyemi, Daniel Fayemi, Bukola Afeni, Safiu Kehinde, Halimah Olamide
UPDATES:
- More voters seen coming out in numbers to cast their votes at olowo area of iju ishaga.
- Electorates still coming out in Numbers to exercise their civic rights in Arowolo street Abule Egba Lagos state.
- Voters Resort to Makeshift Booth as INEC Polling Booth Collapse in Ikorodu
Safiu Kehinde
Voters at Agbala Ward, Ikorodu, had to resort to makeshift booth following the collapse of INEC’s Polling Booth.
The INEC equipment had collapsed under the influence of the heavy breeze which stormed the polling unit amid the voting exercise.
While the voting exercise continue, some of the voters and a NSCDC agent assigned to the polling unit volunteered to assist the INEC Officials in setting up a makeshift booth where voters can privately cast their vote on the ballot papers before dropping them in the ballot box.
This, however, did not augur well for party agents present at the polling unit as they were seen calling on the INEC officials to usher the voters away from the collapsed polling booth.
Meanwhile, the polling unit, as at the time of filing this report, saw low turnout from voters as against the 526 names pasted to the unit.
- Tinubu Urge Security Officials Not To Intimidate Voters
Bukola Afeni
The Presidential Candidate of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said security officials should not intimidate voters while performing their civic rights.
He stated this while briefing journalists after performing his voting exercise in Lagos.
“The security officials should not be at the front and intimidate the voters.
We want them to be at different points in the polling unit and outside. They should ensure that the people do the right thing. This is a celebration of freedom. The voting process was smooth, the security are doing a great job”, he said.
He commended the voting process and said the electoral act has brought peace of mind this time around.
- Electorates still coming out in Numbers to exercise their civic rights in Arowolo street Abule Egba Lagos state.
- Akeredolu Casts His Vote, Expresses Concern Over Low Turn Out Of Voters•Report by Kamil OpeyemiOndo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, on Saturday cast his vote in ward 5, unit 6, ljebu Owo, his home town.The Governor who arrived his polling unit at exactly 10:47am amidst cheers from voters at the unit was able to cast his vote at about 10:55am after some technical hiccups of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) which lasted for about eight minutes.Speaking with journalists shortly after exercising his franchise, the Governor said he was not too impressed with the turn out of voters. He however expressed hope that more voters will come out before voting ends.His words:”Probably, this initial hiccup applied to me only because several people have passed through this and they didn’t have much problem.
“And I believe that it was caused by the surging crowd, you know they had to clear the crowd, and at a point, they felt it was because I am wearing white, whichever one, the important thing is that at the end of the day, the BVAS machine captured me. That’s all. So, when there is some delay, we should expect it but I have cast my vote.
“Well, I am not too impressed yet with the turnout but I expect that many people will come out. But we need to be larger than this, I have always voted here. But I know that people are going to come out. We are more and it’s too early in the day now, since they know you come and vote and go. So everybody will come out at their own convenient time. Many people will still come and vote.
“But for me, INEC has displayed their Independence, I don’t see anything they are doing now. At least, at this polling booth, I don’t know what is happening in other places but they have been cautious. Those who are there, they are been cautious and I believe that is their Independence. For now, I don’t know what is happening in other places,” he said
- Voters refuse to co-operate with INEC officials at Ruga Fulani Centre, Bwari Area Council
Bukola Afeni
Residents of Ruga Fulani centre in Bwari Area Council refuse to follow the guidance of the INEC officials.
Though they came out in large numbers, they, however, gave the INEC officials a tough time by refusing to co operate with the officials.
One of the voters who spoke with NPO reports, Chioma Nnamani said “I came here in good time, but I have been in the sun for hours waiting for INEC officials to give me a number, the electorates are not cooperating with the INEC officials. I do not know when we are going to leave this area”, she disclosed.
Another resident, Audu Ishaya, lamented that the number of people in the Ruga Fulani centre is too much.
” The centre could have been split into three centers. I do not know when I will leave this polling unit. Our people should behave better. If they have worked unitedly with the officials, most of us would have been through with the voting exercise”, he said.
- Obi Casts His Vote in Anambra, Promises Selfless Service If He Wins
•Report by Kamil Opeyemi
The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has cast his vote at his polling unit in Agulu ward 2, Anaocha LGA of Anambra state.
Obi, who is one of the leading presidential candidates in the election, cast his vote around 11:43 am amid cheers from his supporters.
Addressing journalists shortly after the exercise, he said he was passionate about serving the people.
“It is by God’s grace that I am here. The first thing that I will do if I win is to thank God. I just want to serve the people. I want to show compassion. I want to help people out of poverty,” he said.
The former governor of Anambra State is slugging it out with the major contenders which include Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
- The election monitoring team arriving the polling unit
- Large turnout of voters in Ruga Fulani/LEA Primary school in Bwari Area council
- Electorates troop in numbers to exercise their civic rights in Iju Ishaga area of Lagos state.
- Voters seek for time extension, residents search for missing names
Bukola Afeni
Residents in Sagwari Polling unit in Bwari Area councils are seeking for extension of voting time as some of the voters cannot find their names on the list of accredited voters.
A few hours into the voting process, some of the voters are still searching for their names.
However INEC officials promised that more names will still be posted, a large number of the voters are discouraged and some are heading back home.
One of the voters, Ngozi Okafor said it is quite frustrating for her to be searching for her name despite coming to the polling unit on time.
“The officials said they will still paste more names, but am discouraged. I hope they will extend the hours of voting. I came here in good time, for me to be staying under the hot sun”, she said.
Another voter, Bamidele Adeogun said the INEC officials should have ensured that all the names of those registered in a particular centre should be assigned to the same centre.
” I came here this morning, and have been searching for my name for the past two hours. The officials promised us that they will bring out more lists of voters. INEC should extend the voting time so I can perform my rights as a citizen”, he said.
- Former President, Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo has cast his vote
- Voters were given water at polling unit in Dutse, in Bwari Area council, Abuja
- Vice Presidential Candidate of PDP, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa cast his vote
- Voters turning out in droves to exercise their civic duties @ Lekki, Lagos
- A less busy Polling Unit in Ikorodu as most residents in the area are drafted to the unit
- Voters turning out in droves to exercise their civic duties @ Lekki, Lagos
- Tinubu, Wife Vote in Lagos
The Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress Bola Ahmed Tinubu has voted in Ikeja Lagos.
Tinubu arrived at his polling unit Kafi/Awolowo way PU 047 Ikeja.
He was accompanied by his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu who had just voted at Falomo Square, Ikoyi.
Addressing newsmen shortly after he casted his vote, Tinubu said democracy is here to stay in Nigeria adding that he is confident of victory
He said the voting process is “going smoothly” and “going well”.
On the turnout of voters, the APC candidate said, “This is expected, we need a good turnout and that is the adoption and the commitment to democracy and the democratic process must take place.”
Asked how certain of victory he is, Tinubu said, “I’m too certain.”
The APC flag bearer is slugging it out with other 17 presidential hopefuls.
Tinubu’s major contenders include Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
- Promise Fulfilled As Samuel Ortom Casts His Vote For Obi
- Voters Await INEC Officials At Tinubu’s Polling Unit
•Report by Kamil Opeyemi
Scores of voters are currently expecting the arrival of the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the unit of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu in unit 085, Ward 3, Sunday Adigun, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Observers, police personnel and journalists were spotted at the scene while the INEC officials were yet to arrive.
Expressing his concerns, the Ikeja Local Government Chairman, Mojid Balogun said they are waiting for the arrival of the officials as at the time of filing this report.
“We are waiting for the electoral officials, we have done our part and we don’t know why they are delaying. I am waiting to receive our candidate before I go to the polling unit,” he said
- Large turnout of voters at Sagwari Dutse Baupma ward under Bwari Area council Abuja
- President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife cast their votes
- Ifako ijaiye ward Ijaiye Ojokoro polling unit at junction of Sanni Sokoti currently has no registered voter out to vote at moment
- Voters still searching for their names at a polling stating in Bwari Area council. However, INEC officials promised that more names will still be pasted with a large number of the voters becoming discouraged and some heading back home.
- Buhari set to vote at his polling unit PU 003, ward Sarkin Yarn A, Kofar Baru Gidan Niyan, Daura, Katsina
- Nigeria Decides: Atiku Casts Vote in Adamawa
Report by Halimah Olamide
The Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has cast his votes for the presidential and National Assembly election.
The former vice president alongside his wife were accredited at about 9:37am, with their votes cast few minutes after.
Atiku expressed his confidence of winning the presidential election after casting his vote at Ajiya 02, in Gwadabawa Ward, Yola North Local Government of Adamawa.
He stated the process was simple and straight forward and that he cast his vote without stress.
- INEC official prepares ballot papers at a polling station in Kano on February 25, 2023, during Nigeria’s presidential and general election.
- Voters struggling to locate their names on register ahead of the commencement of the exercise at DC Laito unit 008, Gidigbo ward 002, Iwo
EARLIER STORY:
A total of 93,469,008 eligible voters are billed to go to the polls today to elect a new President to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
The figure, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, is the final after a clean up of its register of voters across the country.
Eighteen presidential candidates are jostling to replace Buhari who became president first in May 2015 and was re-elected for a second term in 2019.
The list, in alphabetical order reads thus:
Accord, Professor Christopher Imumulen, .Action Alliance, ALMUSTAPHA HAMZA, Action Democratic Party, ADPSANI YABAGI YUSUF, .Action Peoples Party, NNADI CHARLES OSITA, African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, African Democratic Congress, Dumebi Kachikwu, All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu8, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Professor Peter Umeadi, Allied Peoples Movement, Yusuf Mamman Dan Talle, Boot Party, BPADENUGA SUNDAY OLUWAFEMI, .Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, National Rescue Movement, NRMOSAKWE FELIX JOHNSON, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Redemption Party, Mr.Kola Abiola, Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, Young Progressive Party, Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim, Zenith Labour Party, NWANYANWU DANIEL DABERECHUKWU.
Of these 18, three candidates stand more prominent and look promising to win the race.
These are Tinubu of APC, Atiku of PDP and Obi of the LP. A fourth contender who has shown some significant followings especially in the Northern part of Nigeria is Kwankwaso of NNPP.
A former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who had not hidden his preference for Obi of Labour Party, last night ticked Obi as his candidate in his twitter handle.
To secure victory, a candidate must win 25% of the total votes cast in at least 24 states of the 36 in the country.
INEC said on Friday it was prepared for the exercise.