today is d d day in kogi as they to the polls again for the gurbanitorial elections wat do u think. i think pdp ll win the polls cos their machineries are still on ground but the case ll not be so in Adamawa. lets us fill ouselves in.

fresh governorship poll held in Kogi State in spite of tight security.

There were incidents of arson, thugs hijacking election materials and allegations of compromise by some law enforcement agents in some places.

Unspecified number of houses and cars belonging to some politicians were torched in Ugwolawo in Ofu Local Government Area.

Armed thugs believed to be loyal to PDP, dressed in police uniform, went about Idah town, hijacking ballot boxes.

They also attacked journalists attached to a Lagos based private television station, Channels, and correspondents of the Independent newspapers.

A van with registration number PF 968 HQ, belonging to the Police Anti-Bomb squad was stationed in front of the INEC state office.

A heavy detachment of soldiers, policemen and other security agencies were there.

A close associate to the AC governoship candidate, Ahmed Okara, said there was no voting in Okene at all.

Okara said 265 boxes/ballot paper s for Okene were carted away, adding that when ANPP supporters arrived INEC office, PDP thugs and policemen started shooting before the boxes were stolen.

Reports indicated that the materials for the election arrived their destinations later than expected in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Consequently, there was delay in the commencement of voting in most polling units.

At Okene, Adavi, Okehi, Ajaokuta and Ogori Magongo, voting could not start until about 11am, as against 9am.

The exercise saw the presence of security men, most especially in Okene, where security was heaviest trying to nip any threat in the bud.

In Lokoja, the former governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, voted at about 11:50am at the Lokoja Club and reassured the people that he would return to Lugard House at the end of the exercise.

His opponent, Prince Abubakar Audu, who also cast his vote at his Ogbonicha home in Ofu LGA at about 12:20pm, equally assured the people of his electoral victory.

The one-time governor of the state is the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

At Kabba, where a large turnout of voters was noticed, there was a case of snatching of ballot boxes at the Methodist Primary School.

But at Ugwulawo, security men were able to restore order after the incident at the headquarters of Ofu Local Government Area during which vehicles and houses were burnt.

There was low voters turn out. As at 10:30am, election materials had not been distributed in Okene.

The place looked deserted, like a ghost town.

It was learnt that many residents were afraid that there might be violence, so, they moved out to neighbouring Ondo State and Abuja.

When our correspondent visited the Ogaminana Collation Centre, election materials were still being distributed.

Some of the voters complained about late commencement of voting. The situation was not different at Lafia Ward.

There were six police checkpoints between Okene and Lokoja. There was a heavy presence of security men. Some voters said many people kept away from voting because they were afraid of violence. In most of the polling stations at Adati Local Government Area, as at 11 am, no single polling booth had opened for voting. There were no electoral officials either.

A domestic observer from the National Vanguard Organisation, China Ugwuadu, said he had observed that turnout was low. He said people were scared of coming out because of possible outbreak of violence. ”But, surprisingly, everywhere is calm,” he said.

Idris said he had served his people well to justify the mandate earlier given to him. He said he had no doubt that the people would also support him this time around.

The former governor admonished his fellow contestants and said, ”We should see today‘s election as democracy at work. We should not fight ourselves; after all we are all trying to serve our people. If I am elected, I will continue from where I stopped but with some modifications.”

When asked what would be his reaction if the election results were to show that he lost, he said such a question did not arise, as he was confident of winning.

When asked to react to low voters turnout, he said he was not aware of it.

When our correspondent visited Locongoma Primary School, Muslim Community School, NEPA Village and Moremi polling booths, there was low voters turnout.

In some cases, people had more security men than voters.

At Locongoma Primary School for instance, there were about 20 policemen, five officials of National Defence and Security Corps, some immigration officers and prison officials, but just 10 voters were in the queue.

At 10 am, at the polling booth beside the secretariat, no official of INEC could be seen and some voters were waiting.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Onu Inanegwu, reacted to people‘s complaint that heavy security affected voters turnout.

He said the law said people should register close to their areas of residence.

The PPRO said once excessive movement was allowed, there would be violence.

He said the police were only doing their job of ensuring security; and that if the police had not deployed enough men, Nigerians would have complained.

He said that reports reaching him from various parts of the state showed that things were calm.

There were fully armed soldiers and State Security Service men; Civil Defence and Federal Road Safety men on the ground aside from the security agencies mentioned earlier.

A lot of people said they felt intimidated by the security men.

The Campaign Coordinator of the PDP, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, said it was better to have good security than to have violence and casualties.

He said his people would go round to tell the people to come out to vote, that there was peace.

The State Action Congress Chairman, Mike Adeleye, alleged 16 agents of the ANPP candidate were arrested and detained in the police station at Agbayi the night before.

He alleged that in Kabba, some PDP thugs were causing violence, and that some members of the party hijacked some ballot boxes.

”We learnt that some cache of arms were intercepted at Ejipo, Benue State. They were being taken to Olamaboro in Kogi State by some youths.

A state was caught with seven ballot boxes in the bush in Odabga community in Ankpa Local Government Area.

Unmarked L300 bus was used in abducting INEC officials and snatching of the boxes.

DPO Ankpa John Yusuf said a lawmaker in the state which he referred to as Yinusa was being detained in connection with the incident.

The PPRO said he could not comment on the intercepted arms as it happened in Benue State.

An agent of African Democratic Congress stationed at the INEC headquarters in Lokoja, Abubarkar Sodeeq, alleged that voting materials meant for Mami Market Polling Unit in Ward A were diverted.

Audu complained that voting materials arrived late and that voting commenced too late at Ogbonicha ward at Ofu LGA where he voted

The ANPP candidate said he was unhappy that the election was four hours behind schedule.

When asked whether he suspected sabotage, he said, ”That cannot be ruled out but we have to wait first to see the end of the election.”

He said some thugs were causing problems at Anyangba, Dekina Local Government.

At a press conference held with INEC officials, its commissioner in charge of publicity, Chief Philip Umeadi Junior, said the collation of the election results had begun.

He said the final result would be released on Sunday morning in the worst scenario.

He said without prejudice to isolated cases of violence, the election went on well and met acceptable standard.

”The level of violence we expected was not what we saw,” he said.




He said if the effort of the commission to ensure free and fair elections was complemented by other stakeholders in the election process, Nigerians would have no reason to complain about election.

Umeadi admitted that there was violence in Okene, but denied that election did not take place there.

He also said the commission got information about militias that were armed and the ammunition that were procured by some politicians.

http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200803300181829


here we go again

WHO WON

Idris Won!

Not surprised if IDRIS wins?

from what i saw of the whole thing pdp was really strong in that state and went at the whole thing with everything also for a man of tunde ogheha's status to be a party agent representing pdp doesnt really mean a lot but it shows the level of seriousness pdp have put into it, everybody knew pdp would win having seen the handwriting on the wall since way back when the intrigues began

PDP, u guys dont seem to surprise NIGERIANS

[b]P[/b]ublic [b]D[/b]uping is their [b]P[/b]riority

pdp won again it is no surprise dat they mon thanks to their normal bragado and violence. one day sha monkey go go market e no go return, and that day is near.