Posted by By WAHEED ODUSILE, EBOMHIANA MUSA, ANDY ASEMOTA, CHUKS ONUOHA, ISMAIL OMIPIDAN & NWAGBO NNENYELIKE on
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Action Congress (AC) have taken early leads in yesterday's states houses of assembly and governorship elections conducted across the country in their various traditional strongholds.
•PPA in strong showing in S/East
• Atiku ‘gagged'
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Action Congress (AC) have taken early leads in yesterday's states houses of assembly and governorship elections conducted across the country in their various traditional strongholds.
While the PDP has raced into an early lead across the South-South zone in Sunday Sun exit polls, the ANPP on the other hand is leading in key North-West states of Kano, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara even as the two parties appear to be running neck to neck in Katsina State.
General Mohammadu Buhari and Alhaji Umar Yar'Adua of the ANPP and PDP respectively are both from Katsina State.
Soldiers were deployed to strategic places in the state
In Sokoto State, exit polls conducted by Sunday Sun also saw Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in early lead as at press time.
In the South-eastern states of Abia, Imo and Ebonyi, reports from our correspondents indicate that the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) is making a strong showing.
Although its candidate has been in detention for weeks running courtesy of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Theodore Orji of the PPA is in commanding lead in Abia with the PDP contender, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu trailing behind.
In Imo where confusion characterized the poll over the eligibiliy or otherwise of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, Martin Agbaso of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Ikedi Ohakim of the PPA appear to be running neck to neck.
PDP's Dr. Andy Uba was leading in Anambra State.
The Action Congress, true to book makers projections, is leading the race in Adamawa State, the homestead of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Lagos State, Edo State and Ekiti State.
However, the situation in Adamawa was still tense yesterday following the announcement Friday by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Suleiman Bello that the Action Congress gubernatorial candidate, Ibrahim Bapetel is disqualified from the race.
Bello, who claimed to have just received instructions from Abuja to that effect said Bapetel was indicted for fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
While asking for the deployment of more policemen to the state, the electoral commissioner also announced the disqualification of the two candidates each from the ANPP and PDP from contesting the House of Assembly election in the state.
This is even as Atiku was effectively 'gagged" following a directive that he remained speechless during the polls that held yesterday nation-wide.
The order came from the Police Commissioner in the state, Aloysius Okorie.
He was barred from making any public comment after casting his vote.
Okorie said that he had instruction from above to allow Atiku, who was in Adamawa for the elections, to cast his vote between 8:00 am and 12:00 noon, after which he should retire to his home.
In Kano, if the results continue to go the way of the ANPP, then Governor Ibrahim Shekarau may be on the verge of breaking the jinx that has seen no incumbent re-elected to office.
In Cross River and Akwa Ibom, Senator Liyel Imoke and Obong Godswill Akpabio, respectively, have taken the lead in their respective states.
In Edo State however, the PDP is running behind the AC, as former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole takes early lead.
Meanwhile, the new INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Abia State, Prince Solomon Soyebi, announced prior to yesterday's election that the commission created satellite polling units for the exercise.
The REC told Sunday Sun in an interview in his office that it became imperative to create what he call 'satellite polling units" in view of the fact that some of the regular polling units recorded over 150 registered voters.
Soyebi, however, said that 314, 000 regular polling units were officially recognized.
He disclosed that the last materials, which he described as 'sensitive" were moved early enough to the 17 local government areas in the state as at 3.30pm Friday, adding that the commission worked hard to ensure a hitch free poll. He advised Abia people to defend their votes but not with cutlasses.
The REC said the commission's preparation for yesterday's polls was a feat in the history of elections in the country, adding that they did not have to wait for the last minute to move materials to locations, as was the case in the past.
But the sudden creation of the satellite polling units did not go without suspicion and anxiety among the political parties in the state as it was perceived to be a ploy to manipulate the election.
The House of Rep candidate of the Action Congress (AC), for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Mr. Emeka Nwosu, criticized the arrangement saying: 'It is quite wrong, there is no provision for this in the 2006 electoral act. So, it is illegal. For me, I call on INEC to stop it forthwith, if it is not applicable in other parts of the country, why should it be in Abia?
'If they don't want to precipitate crisis in this state, they should follow the electoral act to the letter, which guides this election."
On his part, Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief Anthony C.B. Agbazure, said.
'I know that after 500, there is supposed to be a new polling unit and I also know that they should have done this much earlier. To do so less than 24 hours to the election is suspect.
The people ought to have been informed properly and adequately, telling them where they should go and vote.
Having not done that within a reasonable period, you discover that it is not the best and it is open to different interpretations.
'Here in Abia State , we are a government that respects the law, and believe in the law. We know that INEC cannot afford to create problems for themselves. We are prepared, we are determined, if anything funny is done at any stage, we will square up and make sure nobody escapes justice."
Relatedly, the Abia State government Friday raised alarm over an alleged plot by the opposition to arrest and intimidate members of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).
A one-page statement entitled 'Special Announcement" signed by Agbazuere said thus: 'Government has it on good authority that in their various meetings across the state, these politicians have concluded plans to arrest key politicians of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) on spurious allegations, detain and keep them until after the elections, before they are granted bail.
'Government similarly wishes to let the election monitoring groups and the public to note that already, key members of the P.P.A in the state have continued to receive various invitations from security agencies over claims of security threat.
'This development has sent undue panic into the system, with a high possibility (that) the elections in the state may after all not be free and fair. It is, therefore, the desire of government that those embanking on this line of action should stop forthwith, and give peace a chance.
'Government also calls on police and other security authorities to take immediate steps to change this trend and assure citizens including such highly placed politicians, that they can lead their supporters to realize the peoples will."
Optimism, however, ruled the peaceful atmosphere in Katsina as the faithful of the ruling PDP, their ANPP and AC counterparts hoped to win the state's governorship race.
However, early indications were that PDP might carry the day in the elections.
Meanwhile, the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Dan-azumi Doma, had assured the public of adequate security to ensure free and fair elections.
In Kwara State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in denied allegations that it was prepared not to make the election materials available in some local government areas in the state as a ploy to give the ruling party an adge.
Kwara State INEC commissioner, Mr. Ayo Adakeja, while reacting to the allegation, said it was not only a rumour but mischievous on the part of the peddlers of the rumour.
All sensitive materials for the election, according to him, were collected from the Central Bank on Thursday and distributed to where they are needed.
Adakeja stressed that INEC had laboured to ensure transparency and fairness in yesterday's election.
Seen no incumbent re-elected to office.
In Cross River and Akwa Ibom, Senator Liyel Imoke and Obong Godswill Akpabio, respectively, have taken the lead in their respective states.
In Edo State however, the PDP is running behind the AC, as former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole takes early lead.
Meanwhile, the new INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Abia State, Prince Solomon Soyebi, announced prior to yesterday's election that the commission created satellite polling units for the exercise.
The REC told Sunday Sun in an interview in his office that it became imperative to create what he call 'satellite polling units" in view of the fact that some of the regular polling units recorded over 150 registered voters.
Soyebi, however, said that 314, 000 regular polling units were officially recognized.
He disclosed that the last materials, which he described as 'sensitive" were moved early enough to the 17 local government areas in the state as at 3.30pm Friday, adding that the commission worked hard to ensure a hitch free poll. He advised Abia people to defend their votes but not with cutlasses.
The REC said the commission's preparation for yesterday's polls was a feat in the history of elections in the country, adding that they did not have to wait for the last minute to move materials to locations, as was the case in the past.
But the sudden creation of the satellite polling units did not go without suspicion and anxiety among the political parties in the state as it was perceived to be a ploy to manipulate the election.
The House of Rep candidate of the Action Congress (AC), for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Mr. Emeka Nwosu, criticized the arrangement saying: 'It is quite wrong, there is no provision for this in the 2006 electoral act. So, it is illegal. For me, I call on INEC to stop it forthwith, if it is not applicable in other parts of the country, why should it be in Abia?
'If they don't want to precipitate crisis in this state, they should follow the electoral act to the letter, which guides this election."
On his part, Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief Anthony C.B. Agbazure, said.
'I know that after 500, there is supposed to be a new polling unit and I also know that they should have done this much earlier. To do so less than 24 hours to the election is suspect. The people ought to have been informed properly and adequately, telling them where they should go and vote.
Having not done that within a reasonable period, you discover that it is not the best and it is open to different interpretations.
'Here in Abia State , we are a government that respects the law, and believe in the law. We know that INEC cannot afford to create problems for themselves. We are prepared, we are determined, if anything funny is done at any stage, we will square up and make sure nobody escapes justice."
Relatedly, the Abia State government Friday raised alarm over an alleged plot by the opposition to arrest and intimidate members of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).
A one-page statement entitled 'Special Announcement" signed by Agbazuere said thus: 'Government has it on good authority that in their various meetings across the state, these politicians have concluded plans to arrest key politicians of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) on spurious allegations, detain and keep them until after the elections, before they are granted bail.
'Government similarly wishes to let the election monitoring groups and the public to note that already, key members of the P.P.A in the state have continued to receive various invitations from security agencies over claims of security threat.
'This development has sent undue panic into the system, with a high possibility (that) the elections in the state may after all not be free and fair. It is, therefore, the desire of government that those embanking on this line of action should stop forthwith, and give peace a chance.
'Government also calls on police and other security authorities to take immediate steps to change this trend and assure citizens including such highly placed politicians, that they can lead their supporters to realize the peoples will."
Optimism, however, ruled the peaceful atmosphere in Katsina as the faithful of the ruling PDP, their ANPP and AC counterparts hoped to win the state's governorship race.
However, early indications were that PDP might carry the day in the elections.
Meanwhile, the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Dan-azumi Doma, had assured the public of adequate security to ensure free and fair elections.
In Kwara State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in denied allegations that it was prepared not to make the election materials available in some local government areas in the state as a ploy to give the ruling party an adge.
Kwara State INEC commissioner, Mr. Ayo Adakeja, while reacting to the allegation, said it was not only a rumour but mischievous on the part of the peddlers of the rumour.
All sensitive materials for the election, according to him, were collected from the Central Bank on Thursday and distributed to where they are needed.
Adakeja stressed that INEC had laboured to ensure transparency and fairness in yesterday's election.