The uploading of results from polling units for Saturday’s governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo is in progress.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as of 5:55 pm, 1,417 polling unit results for Bayelsa, representing 63.15 per cent of the 2,244 expected polling unit results, had been uploaded by INEC.

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NAN reports that the results were uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) designated portal.

For Imo, 2,899 out of 4,720 expected polling unit results, representing 60.93 per cent, were so far.

Also, 1,914 out of 3,508 polling unit results, representing 54.56 per cent of the governorship election results for Kogi, had been uploaded on the INEC portal. (NAN)

Timipre Sylva, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, has scored zero in Governor Douye Diri’s polling unit.

Sylva is challenging Diri, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is seeking reelection.

See the results below:

Sampou/Kalama Ward, PU 004, Kolokuma/Opokuma LG, Bayelsa

APC: 0
ADP: 1
PDP: 218
LP: 0

Sorting, counting of votes ongoing in Bayelsa

Sorting and counting of votes have commenced in many polling units in Bayelsa after voting in the governorship election ended at 2.30 pm.

At PU 10, Agric Meeting Hall, Attissa 1, Yenagoa, the voting process ended at 2.30 pm while sorting of ballot papers commenced at 2.35 pm in the presence of party agents and security personnel.

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It was also ongoing at PU 05 Government House Agric, Attissa 1 Ward as at 2.55 pm, and PU 047, Afin-Aken Play Ground III, Onopa, Attissa 1 Ward at 3.02 pm.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sorting of votes commenced at 3.07 pm at PU 016 Fakulu Primary School (West), Epie lll Ward, while sorting was concluded at PU 035, Ekeki Central Motor Park, Epie lll Ward, where recording of the result was ongoing.

Also at Fankien l and ll/Corpers Lodge Road, Epie lll WaWard Yenagoa, the sorting and counting had been concluded, while result was being uploaded to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) as at 3.21 pm.

The PU Assistant Presiding Officer at the polling unit, Richmond Awipi, told NAN they had successfully uploaded the unit’s election results to the IReV. (NAN)

An 86-year-old woman, Mrs Mercy Okodo, has expressed disappointment that her name was missing on the voters register in her polling unit in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the woman said she trekked to Polling Unit 011 at Yenada Market Square, Epie III Ward, Yenagoa, in order to vote for her governorship candidate.

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NAN reports also that the polling unit has 822 registered voters.

Okodo expressed disappointment that her name was missing in spite of voting at the same polling unit in the past.

“I’m surprised to be told that my name is not on the voters list, it’s very disappointing,” the octogenarian said.

Okodo, who said she was at the polling unit before voting started, was eventually assisted to return home by a good Samaritan.

Meanwhile, Mrs Sarah Godfrey, a 60-year-old civil servant, said after casting her vote at the polling unit that the election has been peaceful.

She commended INEC for making special arrangements for elderly persons to vote without hassle.

Godfrey, who recently had a surgery, said she came out to vote for the future of her children.

“I had surgical operation, but I could not sit down at home without voting. I am doing this because I believe it will be the turn of my children tomorrow.” (NAN)

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dino Melaye, on Saturday demanded the cancellation of the elections which were held in five Local Government Areas of the state.

The LGAs, according to Melaye are Okene, Okehi, Ajaokuta, Adavi, and Ogori/Mangogo.

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The candidate alleged that the results from the units were compromised.

Posting via his official X account, Melaye said, “INEC must cancel the election in the 5 local governments of Kogi-Central. The election in Okene, Okehi, Ajaoukuta, Adavi, and Ogori/Mangogo is a scam coordinated from the highest level of INEC.”

Melaye had earlier failed to show up at his polling unit situated at Iluafon quarters, Aiyetoro 1, Ijumu Local Government Area of the state.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had also visited his polling units.

Dino, alongside the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Leke Abejide, popularly referred to as “Elder” are the two major candidates gunning for the position of governor from the Kogi West Senatorial District.

Electoral observers say Abejide who is a serving lawmaker may affect Dino’s chances at the governorship polls.

Kogi-West, which Dino hails from has never produced a governor since the inception of the state.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has secured victory at Grade 1 Area Court, Ajaka Ward 07 in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi state.

The party polled 111 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), which trailed with 05 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured zero votes.

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Earlier when he cast his vote at his Ajaka polling unit in IgalaMela/Odolu LGA, Muritala Ajaka, SDP gubernatorial candidate, raised alarm of an going electoral malpractices at Adavi, Okene ,Okehi and Ogori Magogo local governments.

While he praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a job well done, he implored the commission to call their officials in charge of the said LGAs where voters are alleging of no result sheets to order immediately.

He added that their grievances in respect of ongoing elections had been reported to INEC and other appropriate authorities for action.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed some unseen forces for late arrival of officials and election materials in some polling units for Saturday’s Kogi governorship election.

The state INEC Voter Education and Publicity Officer, Mr Haliru Sule, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Saturday.

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“As an election umpire, INEC made adequate preparations for this off circle governorship election, yet we still experienced some hitches here and there.

“To us these hitches are deliberate sabotage by some unseen forces.

“We didn’t expect the sudden dearth of vehicles that could transport our Adhoc staff and materials to their respective polling units.

“But all the same, we tried our best and over came the challenges, which gave room for smooth and peaceful conduct of the election,” he said.

He added: “We are confident that at the end of the exercise, it would be said that it was free, fair, credible and successful.

“We are appreciative of the efforts of the security operatives at giving our personnel and the electorates adequate security cover for a peaceful and successful election.” (NAN)

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has secured victory at Community School, Obodo, Araimo ward in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.

The party polled 77 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), which trailed with 17 votes while Labour Party secured four votes.

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Earlier when he cast his vote at polling unit 012, Ama Imo Community Primary School in Ikeduru LGA, Samuel Anynawu, PDP gubernatorial candidate, said he was hopeful of victory.

He said that if the election was largely peaceful, he would certainly emerge victorious at the end.

He said, “Honestly everything is getting calm. About in seven wards, ballot boxes have been carted away. That does not stop me from winning.

“INEC said that it will not count any votes in any place where there were records of violence. If the election is free and credible, I will win the elections.

“I am not bothered about the snatching of ballots because INEC said that any places where there are incidences of violence would not be counted.”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, reserved judgment in an appeal brought before it by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Umar Ardo challenging the victory of governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State.

The appellate court, after hearing the submissions brought before it by Ardo, his deputy, Amos Yusuf and the SDP, reserved judgment to a date that would be communicated to parties in the matter.

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While Ardo prayed the court through his counsel to allow the appeal and annul the election of Fintiri, among other prayers, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Fintiri, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who are listed as first to fourth respondents, urged the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit.

Ardo is challenging the judgment of the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which dismissed his petition seeking to nullify Fintiri’s election as the governor of Adamawa State.

While delivering judgment, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice T. O. Uloho, dismissed the petition, saying that it was incompetent, defective, incongruous and not properly instituted and that the petitioners were not certain with what they want.

She declared that the petitioners had lumped the ground of corrupt practices and non compliance with the Electoral Act and failed to file written statement of names of witnesses they intended to call.

The tribunal affirmed the election of Fintiri and also awarded the sum of N200,000 in favour of INEC, Fintiri, Kaletapwa and the PDP.

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the tribunal, Ardo approached the appellate court and prayed it to set aside the judgment of the tribunal and enter judgment in his favour.