NIGERIA VOTES 2007: STATE ELECTIONS UPDATE

THE ELECTIONS
INFORMATION HERE IS FROM HAPPENINGS IN SATURDAY'S ELECTION--- I AM UPDATING AS INFORMATION COMES IN SUNDAY

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Read what Reuters Reporters observed on Saturday as posted online by the Washington Post.

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RIVERS

Associated Press reporter Katherine Hourled who spoke via live phone-in to STV news reports that ballot boxes were being stuffed in Okrika Area even though there was no visible voting happening. In Ogoni there was also no INEC officials and ballot boxes at designated polling booths. See her full report HERE




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ANAMBRA

Armed men burnt the INEC office in Onitsha. Our reporter confirms that hoodlums threw Molotov cocktails into the office. In Onitsha south, some youths abducted some INEC officials in protest against the late arrival of electoral materials. Dr. Chris Ngige's name was conspicuously missing from the ballot as directed by INEC. However the names of Ibrahim Bapitel of AC in Adamawa and Abubaka Audu of ANPP in Kogi who were disqualified by INEC at the eleventh hour (literaly Friday) were ofcourse still on the ballot paper (duh!!!)



INFORMATION FROM TEXT SENT TO 'HOTLENS'HOTLINE INSTEAD OF THE NEWSLINE. Only saw it when I went home (nigerians...sighs and shakes head)


In Edo state popular activist Mike Ozekhome was beaten and arrested by the police after arms were found on him.




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7.30pm update

PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO IS DESCRIBING TODAY’S ELECTION AS SATISFACTORY. HE SPOKE AFTER CASTING HIS VOTE AT THE ANGLICAN SECONDARY SCHOOL ITA-EKO, OGUN STATE. THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE CITIZEN, SAID GOVERNMENT HAD DONE ALL WITHIN ITS POWER TO ENSURE A PEACEFUL POLLS.


ALLEGATIONS AND COUNTER ALLEGATIONS HAVE STARTED TRAILING TODAY’S ELECTIONS. THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE IN LAGOS STATE – SENATOR MUSILIU OBANIKORO IS ACCUSING THE ACTION CONGRESS OF MANIPULATING THE VOTING PROCESS. SENATOR OBANIKORO WHILE SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS AFTER CASTING HIS VOTE SAID SOME HIRED HOODLUMS IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE CARTED AWAY BALLOT BOXES ALREADY FILLED WITH PAPERS.

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HERE'S WHAT I AM ABLE TO GET TO YOU RIGHT NOW AT 4.35PM NIGERIAN TIME THROUGH SILVERBIRD TELEVISION AND RHYTHM 93.7FM REPORTERS ACROSS NIGERIA

LAGOS STATE
Today's election did not start at 8am as scheduled because of the late arrival of INEC officials. This led INEC chairman, Prof.Maurice Iwu to extend voting beyond the 3pm deadline. In Surulere, unlike most parts of Lagos, voting started relatively ealy. As early as 9am. This is attributed to the fact that the local government and local INEC officers started distributing materials at 10pm Friday night. Somolu, Mushin, Ikorodu, Badagry, Iyana-Ipaja, Alagbado and Ebute-Metta were generall peaceful for most of the day.
The omission of the pictures of ten governorship candidates including front runners Jimi Agbaje and Mrs. Uche Ibukun-Ohimai raised some red flags and had people reacting. Agabje speaking on STV's special broadcast said the omission was mischeivious and that it could affect his chances in the election. But Lagos resident electoral commissioner, Moses Ogbe said the omission was not deliberate. Ogbe describe today's election as peaceful with 'MINOR' hitches (cough)

Security was also very tight in Lagos with the heavy presence of armed militar men, who were even preventing voters and INEC officials from geting to the polling centers with their strategically located road blocks. In Lagos Island, there are reports that two ballot boxes were snatched by hoodlums in Ebute-Elefun. Many people also could not find their names and numbers on teh shoddy voters register and therefore could not vote.

EDO
In Beninn City armed yoths snatched two ballot boxes from INEC officials. A similar incident happened in Fugar but the culprits, four of them were arrested by police. The governorship election in Edo state is a straight fight between AC candidate Adams Oshiomhole and PDP candidate Senator Osarheimen Osunbor

OYO
The election was characterized by violence in parts of Oyo state. Two people were reportedly killed in the Challenge area of Ibadan. A PDP cheifatin was apprehended by military officers armed with guns and ammunition. Hoodlums also made away with some ballot boxes in teh Ogbomosho area. Unknown gunmen kidnapped AC cheiftan in the area Akin Oke. Ogbomosho is home to PDP governorship candidate Adebayo Alao Akala.


RIVERS

3 police stations were burned down by militants and about 6 police men killed.

There have been reports of pockets of violence in Osun, Ogun, Niger and Ebonyi states.

I will have more reports and updates as I lay my hands on them. THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!