Voters in Anambra State will, today, decide their next governor, out
of the 23 candidates contesting for the seat. The election is tightly
contested.
A PREMIUM TIMES crew is in the state to give you live,
minute-by-minute updates of the election as it unfolds in the 21 local
government areas of the state.
Refresh your browser to get latest updates.
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Update 17:
Nnewi roads remain deserted as the election holds. Meanwhile some
people were sighted playing football and when I asked them why they were
doing so, they said their votes won’t count since some of their friends
names were missing from the register.
Update 16:
Back at Polling Units 12 – 16 at Okpuno Otolo Nnewi. The
disenfranchised voters say their problem is yet to be solved. “I closed
my market to come here today. I must vote, whether they like it or not,”
one of them said.
Update 15:
At Obi Ilo Okoye polling unit in Awada, Onitsha, there is no INEC and
police presence yet, the state-run Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS,
is reporting.
Update 14:
At INEC office in the presence of Premium Times, Shittu explained
that the observers might have been detained by the soldiers because the
names of the groups were not on the updated list of the observers. The
original list contained 23 but the updated one contains 28 groups.
Update 13:
Prospective voters at the PUs 12 – 16 at Okpuno Otolo Nnewi are furious that they are being disenfranchised.
“I came here by 8.30. I did not see my name. They said I should go.
And I registered here and have voted here two times – the last
governorship election and the presidential election,” said Chinedu
Chukwu, 28, whose card shows PU 12.
Over a dozen other voters say they have the same problem with Mr. Chukwu.
“They said we should wait. We have waited for over one hour,” John Nwonu, 27.
Update 12:
There are few voters at PU 12 – 16 at Otolo, Nnewi.
Emmanuel Okeke, the APC agent, tells
PREMIUM TIMES that most voters who came for accreditation at the stations did not see their names on the register.
“At polling unit 14, only 6 people were accredited out of 77.
Majority did not see their names on the register and the voters said
this is where they were accredited. We reported to an INEC official and
he said maybe they did multiple registration,” said Mr. Okeke.
But an INEC staff told PREMIUM TIMES that the voters had different polling units on their cards.
“They have been coming and we are directing them to where the polling units on their cards are located,” she said.
Update 11:
Soldiers apprehend and detain some election observers from two
groups, NBA and Civil Rights Society Group on their way from Awka to
Onitsha.
INEC Director of Election Monitoring, Bala Ibrahim Shittu, has just
left INEC office, Awka to intervene and effect their release.
Update 10:
Accreditation started at 10am at Ogbugbankwa Square 1 & 2, Awka
South. Some voters on queue complain they arrived since6am.
#AnambraDecides
Update 9:
This is 9.40. We are at Ward 2, Polling Units 007 and 008, Umuono
Community Assembly, Ngodo, Nice Village No single INEC officials here.
They are yet to arrive. The voters are anxiously waiting for them and
complaining.
Update 8:
At Ekwulobia, some voters driving to their polling units were stopped
security officials. They were made to alight from their vehicles and
walk to the polling unit.
Update 7:
Residents at Nnewi have largely complied with the movement
restriction, save for the commercial motorcyclists. At the Polling Unit
007, Okwuezemewi Obiagbo, in Nnewi North, the INEC officials have
arrived and commenced identification of party agents.
Update 6:
Voters at Polling unit 002, Enem hall, Otolo in Nnewi north.
Update 5:
Accreditation has begun at Nnewi ichi, Nnewi. At polling unit 007,
there is visible police presence. The officials are calling in voters in
batches of 10 to be accredited.
Update 4:
Awka roads and streets are virtually empty. However, some shops are
open. Pockets of People moving apparently going to their polling units.
PREMIUM TIMES
is on the busy Onitsha-Enugu Express Way. The security is tight
everywhere. Security personnel are patrolling. Soldiers have just
apprehended two motorcyclists who are carrying their wares apparently
going to trade.
Update 3:
Voters at polling unit 007 in Nnewi-ichi
Update 2:
Rowdiness at Ezi Umunagu Square 1 Ward as some APGA supporters argue
among themselves. As a result, accreditation is yet to commence. Some
members of the community are helping to set up the table waiting for
INEC staff who are yet to arrive.
Update 1:
At Ezi Umuogbu Square Ward 005, Awka, accreditation has commenced.
INEC adhoc staff, a youth corps member, Kenneth Nwobu said the exercise
started at exactly 8.10 a.m. He said there are 674 registered voters but
the ward was given 675 sheet in case of error.
