February 20, 2016 Hassan Adebayo
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Today, Saturday, February 20, the people of Benue South will return to the poll to elect their senator.
The contest is straight between a former Senate President, David Mark, of the Peoples Democratic Party, and David Onjeh, a former students’ leader, and candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
The election is a rerun. The Appeal Court had nullified the March 28, 2015 election of which Mr. Mark was declared winner.
Mr. Mark is 68 years old, while Mr. Onjeh is 41.
Benue South Senatorial District has nine local government areas, dominated mainly by the Idoma ethnic nationality.
The district also has significant populations of Igede, Agila, Alala, Apa and Agatu. Messrs Mark and Onjeh are native Idomas.
PREMIUM TIMES is on the ground in Benue South, and will serve you updates of the election.
Live Blog
10.31 am
PREMIUM TIMES can confirm accreditation and voting are going on concurrently in all the nine local government areas. Exercise has also commenced in Agatu where there was two hours’ delay due to security concern.
From field reports and PREMIUM TIMES’ authoritative findings, card readers are properly functioning across the LGAs.
So far, there has not been report of violence or that of card reader failure.
The process has been smooth.
“There is no violence at all, everybody is calm,” Mr. Confidence, a presiding officer in Otukpo said, stressing what many had said across the LGAs.
At these units, total of registered voters is 800. However, as at 10.28 am, only 242 voters have exercised their civic duty in units A and B respectively.
10.19 am
PU 001A and B, Ogobia primary school 1, Ogbuju Eheje, Otukpo LGA accreditation and voting are going on simultaneously here. It is important to note that in this election, INEC is holding accreditation and voting exercises at a time, a new practice different from previous ones where voting exercise commenced after accreditation of voters.
10.04 am
INEC officials are just returning to polling units from the commission’s office in Agatu local government area. Although materials had arrived the LGA before8am; yet, security concerns delayed commencement of distribution of materials to polling units, PREMIUM TIMES gathered.
We learnt that INEC had to wait for safety clearance from Police and SSS in Agatu LGA before it deployed its staff and corps members who work as ad hoc staff to polling units. This security concern is connected to recurring Fulani herders-Agatu deadly hostility.
9.48 am
At Iga Uroko polling unit in Itabono ward 1, Ogbadigbo LGA. Accreditation exercise is ongoing smoothly. However, no PDP agent is seen here on ground. Only an APC agent is here in this unit under Daniel Onjeh’s local government area.
9.43 am
At Olempe Polling Unit, Olaochagba ward, Ogbadibo LGA, accreditation has commenced. The process is smooth. Here is the unit of Daniel Onjeh, the APC candidate.
9.31 am
PU 08A and N Green Garden, Otukpo Town East ward. Accreditation has just commenced here.
9.25 am
PU 09, 27, Ogiri-Oko street 11, Otukpo ward. Accreditation exercise is just starting. The Presiding Officer, said the delay was due to to confusion. We didn’t know the actual place before; so, we were just roaming about.
9.18 am
PU 18, Otukpo ward, INEC officials have arrived but just getting set to commence accreditation for voters who have been waiting since8 am. Assistant Presiding Officer said “We were delayed at the distribution centre.”
8.53am
Polling officers are just arriving David Mark’s Polling Unit, VIP unit at Otukpo ward 1. They rode motorcycles and were guided by a Police officer and two Civil Defence operatives.
Mr.Sunday, an elderly person, said he had been at VIP units 10 minutes before8am, the time INEC announced accreditation would start. “But if true, I am surprised INEC officials are yet to come,” he said.
8.29 am
VIP polling unit, Otukpo ward 1. INEC officials are yet to arrive at this polling unit the PDP candidate, David Mark, will vote. PDP agent is complaining: “I am concerned; when are they bringing these materials.”
8.09 am
INEC officials are set at PU 10, Ward 10, Otukpo LGA. Also voters are thronging the unit. As the picture shows, voters are now checking their names in INEC “valid registrations” papers.
7.36 am
INEC zonal head in Otukpo has completed distribution of materials to Electoral Officers. The distribution of materials started yesterday afternoon and just ended this morning.
According to reports from the LGAs, INEC officials are now moving to polling units with materials for the conduct of the election. This may fulfil the REC’s vow that the election will start 8am

Following.