73 presidential candidates are participating in today’s election.
However, the contest is expected to be between incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
PMB won the presidential election in 2015, defeating the then incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, with over two million votes.
The voters will also elect 468 members of the National Assembly: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Buhari campaigned on three core mandates of security, anti-corruption and economy.
Despite the challenges being witnessed by many Nigerians in those three areas, the president and his supporters argue that he has done well and deserves another four years to continue with his various projects.
Electoral commission, INEC reported, 72.8 million (72,775,585) are eligible to vote in the elections having collected their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs).
In 36 states, Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Rivers lead with the highest number of eligible voters.
Total of 91 political parties are registered to participate in the elections which will take place in 119,973 polling units and 57,023 voting points nationwide.
Follow our live updates here.
9:43am: An intended voter at PU 001, Ushafa Ward, Bwari,Igboyi Abuja, Rosemary, complained that she has been disenfranchised because INEC officials kept telling her her PVC was not ready but her name now appears in the polling unit register. Meanwhile, voting is going on peacefully at the unit.
Contrary to the stipulated rules of the electoral processes that there should be no campaign posters that could woo voters at the polling units, a couple of campaign posters have been spotted at Hakimi Polling Unit 006 in Wammako Local government, Sokoto.
Posters of a senator, Aliyu Wammakko, a member of the Senate representing Sokoto North is sighted pasted around the polling units.
At first, the posters were shielded by some hoodloms who stood there with hard faces. Meawhile the reporter found his ways and took the pictures.
It is understood that the area is APC dominated. On the roof of a building adjacent to the Polling unit, “All Ya Gode” is boldly written.
Kano Central Senatorial District…….
Minjibir LGA……
Kazawa Ward……
Polling Unit 002……..
Time of Visit……….. 9:10 am
Situation Report……….
Presiding officer complains of the failure of the card reader to authenticate PVC, incomplete voters register and absence of SPO to help come and proffer solutions.
Senatorial District……. Kano north
LGA…… Dawakin tofa
Ward…… Ganduje
Polling Unit……..
Time of Visit……….. 09:37am
Situation Report……….voting takes place immediately after the accreditation and the voting is done on a desk outside and not in a closed cubicle.
9:16 am Lagos central senatorial district, Lagos Island, Olushi Ahmadiya pry. sch. Olushi i (PU: 24/14/11/004) and
Ahmadiya pry. sch. Olushi ii (PU: 24/14/11/005 Voting is yet to commence and voters are complaining about the lateness of the INEC officials
9:21 Confusion at Ahmadiya pry. sch. Olushi ii (PU: 24/14/11/005, Lagos Island, Lagos central senatorial district over party agent form. According to a voter, the PO has refused to commence voting till the arrival of the form, voters are angry and demanding that the voting process should start anyway.
9:44 am: PU 002, ward 07, saki east LGA, Oyo north senatorial District, Oyo State. Voting in progress, the voting booth is well placed, no security personnel on ground. Voters are well coordinated
At 9:54am, Ward D, PU 021, Alimosho Local Government, Lagos West Senatorial district, Lagos State. APC senatorial candidate, Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Yayi, just arrived his polling unit.
@9:50am Ward 01 PU 011 Shomolu Local Government Lagos East Senatorial District. Voting has not commenced as PO Still addressing Party Agents.
9:53 PU 012 Zauda Village 1 Emirs palace Ward 12 AMAC Municipal FCT Abuja Num of REG voters 2056. INEC staffs and security personnel just arrived.
Titi Abubakar being accredited
9.56a.m., Shehu Sani arrives polling unit 20, Ungwar Seriki ward, joins queue
Time : 09:40am Ward: Ijebu 2 ward 005 Polling unit : 006A LGA: OWO Senatorial district : Ondo North Info: The governor of Ondo state Rotimi Akeredolu Aketi is here currently exercising his right to vote at owo. He came in with a convoy of 4hilux,2 jeeps and his personal car. He actually jumped the queue with his wife. The card reader read their card and scanned the thumbprint successfully. He talked about the readiness of the inec officials and the prompt delivery of materials at his polling unit. He came into the polling booth peaceful without a security by his side.
9:49am, Edo State – Voting is also yet to begin at RA 03, Ogida/USE, PU 004, Ogida Motor park, Ogida IV, the electoral officers came late to the polling unit, there’s a sort of little rancor as voters have created a queue in readiness to cast their votes but the electoral officers are still setting up.
Atiku, Titi arrive polling unit in Yola.
9:51am RAC 002, EZEMA WARD, IGBO EZE SOUTH LG, ENUGU NORTH
it has been confirmed that one of the card readers is Nt working.
And due to lack of proper security, voters are now shouting at the PO to be allowing people to vote even without card reader so they can start going home to their various houses
9:52 at PU 007, New London , Bagama A ward, Suleja, Niger East.
A woman casting her vote in cubicle with her phone
PU 001A, Kofar Gigan Sarki, Karu, Abuja. Senator Philip Aduda is expected to vote here. Accreditation and voting has started.
9:18 am: EDO NORTH, ETSAKO CENTRAL.
At St. John primary school, Ward 1, PU1, voting and accreditation has commenced. The total registered number of voters is 647 but they were given 600 ballot papers because they are sure they won’t use all.
9:22 am: EDO NORTH, ETSAKO CENTRAL.
St. John primary school, Ward 1, PU2, total registered number of voters is 521. Voting and accreditation has commenced but the PDP agent is arguing with the police officer that he wants to assist the elderly to vote.
9:22 am. At Akho Pry Schl PU 001, Irrua, Esan Central LGA, Edo Central Senatorial District, there are two voting points.There are complaints that the ballot papers are not complete. The voting is yet to start and there is contemplation on the next step to take. The voters are growing impatient while party agents are arguing with the ad-hoc staff because the card reader is showing invalid date in one of the VPs.
9.22 am At Umuora Square PU 6 Awka North, Anambra Central: voters are on queue as they await authentication of their PVCs. The presiding Officer said the SCR read the cards but fail to authenticate them. He has called the technical support and they are on their way.
9:28am PU 03 Ward 8, Atiba Isale Oyo, Oyo state. The polling unit is very rowdy, the ballot box is seen beside the queue. A police man and woman are seen and they have not been able to maintain any orderliness so far. party agents a very close to the voting point and can be seen conversing with voters. I noticed one instructing them on which finger to use.
Voting begins at Unit 6, Ward 1, Ifedore in Ondo State at 8.17 a.m.
08:10 am: At PU: 16 Ward: 1, Itapa/Osin LGA, S/D: Ekiti North, voting has not started. The voting cubicle is in clear view and not in anyway hidden. One security personnel is on ground. There is an argument between the ad hoc staff and the electorate. They are set in the veranda of an house and they mandated that the door leading into the house is shut and not to be opened until after the election. People are arguing that they have a right to enter their house. They are threatening to eject the ad hoc staff from their house.
8:07am. At PU 003, Ward 01, Station road, Jebba, Moro LG, Kwara North. INEC ad-hoc staff just arrived and they are setting up the place. About 10 security officials are on site.
8:08am Ikot Ekpene Ward 1, PU 10 Akwa Ibom. Materials have not arrived and the people are just standing around.
Voters in PU 001 Ushafa Ward, Bwari Area Council, going through their names. Accreditation and voting yet to commence, as at 8:15AM
There was an insufficient supply of chairs and tables at units 5 and 6, ward 3 in Ifedore local government area Ondo State for electoral officers.
Only a single table was provided. But the community had to rally round to get tables and chairs for the electoral officers.
The situation resulted in the delay in setting up of the polling unit.
Early voters’ turnout in Bauchi metropolis
From all indications, voters’ turnout in Bauchi promises to be impressive. As early as 7 a.m, voters in Bauchi metropolis and in neighbourhoods such as Barkin Kura, Kofar Ran, Makama, Nasarawa, and Sarkin Yelwa of Bauchi Local Government Area are already at their polling units waiting for the arrival of INEC officials.
There appeared to be a delay in the distribution of material at RAC centre in Makama as tens of corps members and INEC officials try to retrieve election materials.
Restriction of movement around the state is lax as commercial motorcyclists and other vehicles are moving freely around town.
There are also few security roadblocks in the metropolis. So far, voters are conducting themselves in an orderly manner, checking their names or the registers pasted at their polling units.
8:01am: Zanfara polling unit 003, bida LGA, Niger south senatorial district, Niger State.
Polling unit not still set for the election process and security officials just arrived at the polling unit
Security eating point at ICC set up by INEC officials
8:04am: PU 012, Araromin Opin, Etiki LGA, Kwara South
PO addresses electorates as the voting process starts; says 438 ballot papers available
8:08 am. Enugu west senatorial district, Awgu lga, Central School. Officials yet to arrive. Electorates waiting.
Early voters’ turnout in Bauchi metropolis
From all indications, the voters turnout in Bauchi promises to be impressive. As early as 7am, voters in Bauchi metropolis and the surrounding neighbourhoods such as Barkin Kura, Kofar Ran, Makama, Nasarawa, and Sarkin Yelwa of Bauchi Local Government are already at their polling units waiting for the arrival of INEC officials.
There appears to be a delay in the distribution of materials at RAC centre in Makama as tens of corps members and INEC officials were trying to retrieve election materials.
Restriction of movement around the state is lax as commercial motorcyclists and other vehicles were moving freely around the town.
There are also few security roadblocks in the metropolis. So far, voters are conducting themselves in an orderly manner, checking their names or the registers pasted at their polling units.
8:03 am: INEC officials are yet to arrive Lagos Central Senatorial District, Lagos Island, Sandgrouse open space at Lewis/Hawley St. Junction iii (PU: 24/14/17/003)
7:51am: Kano central senatorial District. Minjibir LGA. Cikin gari Polling Unit 002
Voing has commenced and party agents stand close to INEC officials and close to the ballot box
7:55am: At Saraki’s polling unit, PU006 ward 2 Ajikobi of Ilorin West local government, Kwara Central, INEC officials are yet to arrive. No sight of the ad-hoc staff and the electoral materials.
@ 7:41 am:Area Court polling unit in Beji, Niger East Senatorial District
This is the polling unit of Muhammad Dada Bosso-Paiko, a member of the House of Representatives.
Voters are here checking their names and numbers. The ad-hoc electoral staff and security officials all on ground.
Anguwan Sarki 1 Polling Unit Beji Niger East Senatorial District, one of those waiting is state Commissioner of Water Resources is Mamman Musa. According to the INEC officials, there are 1,446 registered voters and 1,300 ballot papers.
@ 7:41am: Area court polling unit, Beji Niger east senatorial district where a lawmaker Muhammed Bosso Paiko is to cast his vote.
People are already there checking their names and numbers. INEC staff, security all present
7:53am Gwardabawa local government, Sokoto East
Polling units 009 and 010, Maiturare primary school
There is massive turnout by the people of the area
However, the INEC staff and the election materials are yet to arrive
The electorates are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the INEC staff
7.50 am: In Semetoko Primary School, Chikanda, Kwara North, INEC officials are currently setting up polling Unit as denizens begin to form queue in anticipation.
Some voters at P.U 020 at Apo Resettlement, Abuja are seen taking off campaign posters pasted around the polling unit.
A voter who did not reveal his name said the reasons for their action was because elections are over and the presence if the posters signifies campaigns.
“Campaign are over. Why did they leave the posters here? This is another form of campaigning.
“You don’t leave such things here on election day. What message are you trying to pass?
The voters were however, not restricted by the INEC officials or security officers.
The presidential and national assembly elections are currently on-going. The electoral commission had instructed all candidates to end campaigns 24 hours to election day.
7.50 Semetoko Primary School, Chikanda, Kwara North. INEC officials currently setting up polling unit as denizens begin to form a queue in anticipation.
At several football fields in Kaduna, youth prefer to start the day with exercise
7:54am, PU 004, ward 01, Berger, Jebba, Moro LG, Kwara North, Kwara State. Just as the other 2 PUs visited, there are no officials here. No materials, no security men here too. Party agents and voters have started arriving.
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