Nelson Ugwuagbo

Dino Melaye, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has alleged plots by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate election result sheets in the Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi state.

The PDP candidate, in a video posted on his verified X page on Saturday, alleged that INEC refused to present plain results sheets to agents in Ogori-Magongo, adding that the sheets have been filled and tampered with.

Melaye claimed that INEC’s action has created tension and sparked protests in polling units across the LGA.

He further said that if INEC fails to present plain results sheets in all polling units, PDP agents and supporters should withdraw from partaking in the electoral process.

“INEC has refused to show our agents results sheets and that results sheets have been written. There’s a massive protest in all polling units in the Ogori-Magongo local government of Kogi state right now.

“The results sheets have been filled and tampered with already, and people are refusing to accredit, people are refusing to vote, and they are insisting that plain results sheets must be shown to agents in accordance with electoral law.

“If they refuse to show you results sheets in all polling units across the state, don’t accredit, don’t vote, protest, and resist it.

“This is a democracy, we must protect our votes, we must protect the process, and we must make sure that all the regulations are being observed and respected.

“I call on all my agents, all across the state, that once plain results sheets are not shown to you before the commencement of accreditation, don’t accredit, don’t vote, resist it and protest, record it, video it, show the faces of this compromised INEC staff and security agents and post it on all platform of social media,” the PDP candidate said, adding “This election is a must-win for us. Thank you.”

A civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has alerted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on an alleged pre-filled result sheet for Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State, north-central Nigeria.

Yiaga Africa uploaded a photo of the alleged result sheet on X at 9:20 a.m. on Saturday while voting was just about to start in most of the polling units across the state.

“We received (a) report of (a) pre-filled results sheet discovered in PU 004, Eni Ward of Ogori/magongo in Kogi state before commencement of voting,” the CSO tweeted at INEC.

“Kindly investigate and address this issue promptly to safeguard the integrity of the process,” it added.

The CSO at 9:44 a.m. uploaded a photo of another alleged pre-filled result sheet for the Polling Unit 020, Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi state.

INEC was yet to react to the issue at the time of this report.

A total of 18 candidates are taking part in Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State.

The gunshots were fired a few meters away from the Central Amaimo school where the PDP candidate, Samuel Anyanwu, is scheduled to vote

There was a mild drama at the Amaimo Registration Centre in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State on Saturday when security officials fired double gunshots into the air to quell an argument.

The gunshots were fired a few meters away from the Central Amaimo school where the PDP governorship candidate, Samuel Anyanwu, is scheduled to vote

The incident happened at about 9.48 a.m. with a few voters already checking their names on the displayed INEC register.

Some voters who did not speak on record say they would want to cast their votes on time and leave because they are not sure what the day will be like.

Apart from Mr Anyanwu, other major candidates in the election are Governor Hope Uzodimna of the APC, Athan Achonu (LP) and Tony Ejiogu (APGA).

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission deployed to various polling units across Lokoja are currently stranded at the Ajayi Crowther Memorial School.

The officials were at the location to receive electoral materials for the conduct of the November 11 governorship elections in the state.

Among them are corp members and other ad-hoc staff contracted by the commission for the conduct of the election.

Though the officials have received the electoral materials, they are still stranded as no means of transportation to their various polling units was in sight.

An official was heard informing some officials that the only way they could get to their location was if the voters at the polling units arranged transportation for them.

As at the time of filing this report, only three mini buses were on sight to transport over two hundred electoral officials.

Protesting women in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital calling for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, CP Tolani Alausa on Friday, were teargased by the police.

The women all clad in black outfits trooped out to counter an earlier protest by a group, styled ‘Concerned Bayelsans’ who took to the street in support of the CP.

The ‘Concerned Bayelsans’ protest led by Preye Agama, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the state were armed with placards some of which read “IG thank You for Returning Bayelsa Commissioner of Police,” ” With You we are safe, thank you”.

Speaking with newsmen, Agama said they were in support of the Inspector General of Police for bringing back the Police Commissioner, Tolani Alausa who was rumoured to have been redeployed to the force headquarters.

He said: “The government of the day is angry with the CP because he is giving Bayelsans a level playing field to go into a free and fair election.”

But in a counter move, hundreds of women decked in black attire marched to the state police command, demanding the removal of the CP. 

The protesters mainly women, also called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure a peaceful poll in the state.

However, police operatives opened fire on the placards and leaf-carrying women chanting ‘we need peace, CP must go,” “Bayelsa, we need peace, no to corruption.”