Electorates shun election in Ozidi
1:00pm
Electorates seem to have shunned the ongoing Anambra governorship election at Ogidi, the headquarters of Idemili North Local Government area.
Ogidi is the birthplace of internationally known author, Chinua Achebe.
Checks by our correspondence around 1:00pm showed that no electorate was in sight at a polling unit in Ụmụdiọka.
Electoral officials could be seen ambling about waiting for electorates.
Yul Edochie votes, hails exercise
12:40pm
Yul Edochie, candidate of the Democratic Peoples Congress in the ongoing governorship election in Anambra State has voted in his ward.
The Nollywood star, who is also the son of veteran actor, Pete Edochie, said the exercise has been so far peaceful.
“I have voted. Please go out and vote. Do not be scared. It’s peaceful,” Edochie tweeted shortly after casting his vote.
PPA candidate, Ezeemo calls for extension of voting in Aguata
12 noon
The governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) Godwin Ezeemo has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to extend the accreditation and voting time for the people of Umuchu Ward in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
His call is based on the delay in the arrival of electoral materials.
According to him, as of 9:50 am materials and INEC officials had yet to arrive at his polling unit in Igwebuike civic centre in Umuchu Ward 1 in the LGA.
Ezeemo is worried that even with all the preparations by INEC there are still delays in the election process.
I will win this election – Obiano
Incumbent governor of Anambra state, Dr. Willie Obiano, has expressed confidence that he would win the ongoing gubernatorial election with a landslide victory.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after casting his vote at Otuocha ward 1, at his hometown, Auleri, in Anambra East senatorial district, Obiano said he was satisfied with the conduct of the election.
“A few minutes ago, I performed my Civic responsibility. It started with the accreditation I was told my card is verified, but my finger print, they said it couldn’t be read, but they said that doesn’t count since my card had been verified, so I hope that counts.
“I’ve already performed my civic responsibility. I am really upbeat, I am very happy to see the large turn out of voters eagerly waiting to cast their votes. I am very confident that at the end of the day, I am going to carry the day, I’ll win this election with a landslide victory, and that will be to the glory of God,” he said.
According to him, “If you look around, you will see that there is peace and tranquility everywhere. I urge all my supporters all over Anambra state to please come out and diligently stay on the queue and vote. At the end of the day, their votes will count and the numbers will be counted.”
Commenting on the general conduct of the election so far, Obiano said but for the few hitches reported, which he said are nothing to worry about.
Governor Obiano going to vote
“Little hick ups here and there. Delays, like in Uli, where two of the polling booths, as we speak, the INEC people are not there. We are following up on that. Other than that, there are very, very minor incidents here and there, but nothing to make me worry at all at this point in time,” he added.
Party agent ‘lures’ voters with food
11: 55
At Illo Abito square PU 001 Nsugbe ward 1, a party agent was seen sharing food to votes.
The agent was also accused of enticing voters with N2000 to vote his party.
Meanwhile, at Ukpor ward 4, PU 007 and 008, Nnewi South, voters came out in their numbers to vote. Foreign observers can be seen monitoring the poll.
One arrested for allegedly buying votes, Chidoka arrives polling unit
11:00am
Officials of the Department to Security Service have arrested an unidentified man for allegedly trying to buy votes in the ongoing governorship election.
The man is currently held by DSS officials
Meanwhile, Osita Chidoka, the UPP candidate, arrived his polling unit 030 at Central School 3 at 9.55am, but the officials at the unit just started setting up.
Massive turnout at Umuobi community
10: 50
Residents of Umuobi Community today came out en mass to cast their votes for the governorship election in Anambra State.
The election in the area at the time of this report is peaceful according to Voting Point Officer of Unit 001, Kelechukwu Elemuwo.
Elemuwo disclosed that accreditation started early before voting commenced.
Officials of the Department of State Security, DSS, and some men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were on ground to ensure a smooth exercise.
10:30
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Ike Oye has claimed that the symbol of the party in the ballot paper is ‘too small.’
Chief Oye made the assertion shortly after casting his vote at Unit 003 about 9:45am in Amuobia Village, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Chief Oye stated that it was even difficult for him to identify his party logo in the ballot paper before casting his vote.
He however described the turn out of the people as “impressive” stressing that accreditation and voting took place simultaneously in the area.
“I think this is mass improvement from what we’ve always had. We are very very happy. We believe that everything will end well.”
Chief Oye added,”everything is moving fine and people are efficiently mobilized and they are conscientized as well as enlightened.”
He expressed hope that the people will do he right thing, saying,” people voted and they are waiting for the results.”
Accreditation, voting begin in Awka
Accreditation and voting by registered voters for the Anambra governorship in some part of the state have started.
At Awka award 8, Agu Awka, three polling units in the area began accreditation and voting simultaneously at about 9:10am.
Samuel Okezie, the agent of the PDP told our correspondence that the party is satisfied with the process so far.
He said the part was happy with the process, which allows one to receive accreditation and vote immediately.
Reports gathered that election have also started in most other parts of the state as early as 8:50.
Obiano finally cast his vote at Otuocha
10:17
Incumbent governor, Willie Obiano has finally voted at Eri primary school, in Otuocha.
The governor had earlier stepped after the card reader failed to detect his fingertips.
Card reader fails to detect Obiano’s fingertips
Smart card reader at Eri primary school, Otuocha couldn’t detect Willie Obiano’s fingertips.
The governor has stepped aside while the INEC ad-hoc staff is trying to resolve the problem.
Obiano arrived the unit around 10am.
Accreditation, voting commence in Onitsha North
10:20am Accreditation and voting have commenced at the Central School Amawbia 2 unit 003, 002, 001. Voters are said to be tricking in smoothly.
Meanwhile, materials and personnel have not arrive at any of the 3 polling units visited in Onitsha North LGA as of 7:30 am. Ado girls secondary school, Awka road Onitsha, New era secondary school Omagba phase1 and Prince memorial high school.
However, some youths were seen playing football at the Unizik junction, Awka.
Governor Obiano arrives polling unit
Governor Willie Obiano has arrived at Eri Primary School, Unit 004, Otuocha 1, Aguleri, Anambra East LG to cast his vote.
The governor, who was accompanied by his wife and some aides arrived the centre around 10am.
Voters flee Nkpor polling unit over ‘spiritual charms’
Voters in Nkpor, Anambra state have fled from the Ilogwu Orie Nkpor Polling Unit, after more than seven spiritual charms (JUJU) were seen at the entrance of the polling unit.
Recall that the outlawed IPOB group had threatened to do anything to maintain the sit at home order of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
However, a man has been arrested by security offiers for impersonation. The man, believed to be in his 50s was arrested for holding two voters card at Ubuluisiozor Ward 001 Ihiala LGA.
Voters protest as card reader malfunctions at Oriaifite ward
9:35am
Reports from Oriaifite ward 3, precisely Irefi central school PU 003-006 have it that voters and INEC officials are currently involved in heated argument over the inability of the card reader to function well.
The INEC ad-hoc staff are at the moment sweating it out to fix the malfunctioning machine.
Meanwhile, report from Uswundiuka1 in Otuocha, Anambra East said there is a massive turnout of voters in the exercise.
Also, voting has started at PU011 Ward 3 Atani Ogbaru LGA.
IPOB, MASSOB members go into hiding as soldiers, police take over state
9:30am
As accreditation and voting get underway in the ongoing governorship election, findings by Newsflash247 have shown that members of the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB and the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB have gone into hiding as soldiers, mobile policemen and other security agents have taken over the state.
From our observation, the IPOB and MASSOB members, who have been calling on electorates in the state to boycott the exercise, seemed to have lost their independence and sovereignty as the state is currently calm and peaceful contrary to threat that the election will be bloody.
At the time of filing this report, there are no agitations or words from the groups while the exercise is about to kick off virtually in all the polling boots visited in Ndemili North Local Government Area.
Accreditation, voting commence
10:20am Accreditation and voting have commenced at the Central School Amawbia 2 unit 003, 002, 001. Voters are said to be tricking in smoothly.
Meanwhile, materials and personnel have not arrive at any of the 3 polling units visited in Onitsha North LGA as of 7:30 am. Ado girls secondary school, Awka road Onitsha, New era secondary school Omagba phase1 and Prince memorial high school.
However, some youths were seen playing football at the Unizik junction, Awka.
9:00 am Accreditation and voting have commenced at the Central School Amawbia 2 unit 003, 002, 001. Voters are said to be tricking in smoothly.
Meanwhile, some youths were seen playing football at the Unizik junction, Awka.
7:50 am: Latest report has it that election materials just arrived at PU/003 at Obunagu, Ukpo, Dunuknfia L.G.A Anambra in the ongoing governorship election.
Our reporter, who is on ground the state, reports that situation in the polling booth is calm as security men were on ground to maintain a hitch-free exercise.
Meanwhile, voters are yet to arrive the centre at the time of this report.
Anambra holds its governorship election today. The election is holding amid tight security following threats by different groups to either disrupt or boycott the exercise. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC successfully distributed electoral materials on Friday ahead of today’s election.
Today, November 18, electorates in the ‘Light of the Nation’ would march to polling booths across the state to elect who would captain the ”political ship” of the state in the next four years
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had since released names of 37 successful candidates, who indicated interest in becoming the next governor of the State.
However, among the 37 contenders, four persons have been tipped for the number one seat.
Among the four top candidates are the incumbent, Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Oseloka Obaze of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tony Nwonye of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as well as Osita Chidoka of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN.
Interestingly, Nollywood star, Yul, son of veteran actor, Pete Edochie is also in the race.
He is running on the platform of the Democratic Peoples’ Congress (DPC).
INEC had said that 2,158, 171 eligible voters are expected to participate today’s election.
The electoral body also assured that all political parties and their candidates would be given equal treatment at the poll
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Garba Umar also announced that the force has deployed 16,000 officers for the over 4,000 polling units to ensure a hitch-free election.
The D-day is here and the battle has been drawn along this line.
Your dependable Nigerian news portal, Newsflash247 is currently in the state to bring you live updates, results as well as situation report.
